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“A pretty snug place,” 


said Felix, 




Mary Louise 
At Dorfield 


By 

Edith Van Dyne 


Author of 

** Mary Louise,*’ •* Mary Louise in the Country,** “ Mary 
Louise Solves a Mystery,’* ** Mary Louise and 
the Liberty Girls,*’ “Mary Louise 
Adopts a Soldier.** 


Frontispiece by 

Maude Martin Evers 



The Reilly 8C Lee Co. 


Chicago 




Copyright, 1920 
by 

The Reilly & Lee Ca 


All Rights Reserved 


Made in U. 8, A. 


OCT -4 1920 


Mary Louise at Dorfield 

©CI,A576705 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER PAGET 

I The Sewing Bee 7 

II A Rose and a Song 19 

ni Matron of Honor 29 

IV JosiE 0 ^Gorman 36 

V The Wright Family 49 

VI The Higgledy-Piggledy Shop 58 

VII The Captain OF Her Soul. .... 70 

Vin The Orchid Brooch 84 

IX The Book of Criminals. 96 

X Chief Charley Lonsdale 106 

XI A Skeleton Key 115 

XII Billy Makes a Call 123 

Xin Business Coming On 132 

XIV Another Clue 144 

XV Simpkins & Markle. — 157 

XVI A Dinner Party 169 

XVII Another Visit to the Chief 179 


Contents 


CHAPTER PAGE 

XVin Bob Dulaney Returns the Notb- 

BOOK ^187 

XIX The Wedding ..... 195 

XX The Ride to Somerville. 205 

XXI The Surprising Strength of Auntib 215 


Mary Louise At Dorfield 


CHAPTER I 

THE SEWING BEE 

Dorfield was trying to settle down into its pre- 
war quiet, but no matter bow conservative and 
sleepy a town bas been, when once it is sbaben 
up with war activities it finds it difficult to go 
to sleep again. It may pull tbe bedclothes over 
its bead and bury its ears in tbe downy pillows 
of memories of wbat it used to be but tbe 
echoes of marching troops, shouting crowds, mar- 
tial music, newsboys crying extras, powder mills 
and so forth will reach it no matter how soft 
the pillows or thick the bedclothes. 

The girls of Dorfield found it more difficult to 
settle down than anybody else. Fathers had 
always been busy, so had mothers. The return- 
ing soldiers had dropped into their old places 
7 


8 Mary Louise At Dor field 

and were at work almost as thongli there had 
been no amazing interlude of A. E. F. Only the 
girls seemed to be left out of the scheme of 
things. Many of them kept on working, although 
before the war the idea of making a living had 
been undreamed. The girls who, for purely 
patriotic reasons, had taken positions left empty 
by enlisted men, were loath to go back to the old 
state of dependence now that the men had 
returned. 

I am tired of being an unproductive con- 
sumer and I don’t intend to stand it any longer,” 
declared Elizabeth Wright. 

‘‘ What are you going to do about it? ” asked 
Lucile Neal. 

Do! I’m going to get a good job and hold 
it. I did the work in the bank just as well as 
Price Middleton, although I got only about half 
as much pay for it. I can type better than he 
can and write a business letter all around him. 
When he came back from the war, I stepped out 
as gracefully as you please and gave up my job. 
Nobody seems to be much worried about my 
future, that is, nobody but me, but I’ve been 
thinking a lot about what is going to become of 
me, not only because of money but because I am 


9 


The Sewing Bee 

simply bored to death at the prospect of having 
no regular occupation.’’ 

I feel that way too,” said Laura Hilton. ‘‘ I 
do wish Dorfield wasn’t so poky about its girls. 
Father says young women ought to stay at home 
and preserve fruit, unless it is necessary for the 
family finances that they should go out and 
work. ’ ’ 

“ Always for the good of the family where 
the girl is concerned! ” exclaimed Elizabeth, 
‘‘ and never the good of the girl! Suppose there 
isn’t any fruit! Suppose there is no sugar to 
preserve with! Suppose the beloved family is 
not fond of jam! Suppose there are more girls 
in the household than there are paring knives! 
Suppose one’s mother is so capable and indus- 
trious that there is no work left for the girls to 
do! Suppose a million things! ” 

The group of girls gathered on Colonel Hatha- 
way’s porch laughed at the vehemence of Eliza- 
beth Wright’s harangue. Elizabeth had always 
been different from the rest of her family, who 
were old-fashioned and conservative in their 
ideas. She was one of five sisters. The other 
four were quite content to live the life of “ un- 
productive consumers ” on the not very large 


10 Mary Louise At Dorfield 

income which was derived from an estate in- 
herited by their father. Mr. Wright’s sole occu- 
pation consisted in writing letters demanding 
catalogues of rare books. These he pored over 
from morning until night. Sometimes, enticed 
by the extreme rarity and desirability of a book, 
he would decide he must have it in his fine col- 
lection but he usually took so long to decide and 
put o:ff so long writing his order that, in nine 
cases out of ten, the desired book was sold before 
he sent for it. 

Mrs. Wright was one of those thoroughly 
practical souls who glory in their activity and 
efficiency. She did everything so easily that she 
had never seen the necessity of teaching her 
daughters to do anything. 

‘‘ They will learn soon enough! ” she always 
declared. Nobody taught me! They will 
marry and then they will learn.” 

Elizabeth always winced when her mother an- 
nounced so confidently that her daughters would 
marry. Perhaps they would but, on the other 
hand, perhaps they wouldn’t. She for one was 
sure she would not. Certainly it was not her 
aim in life as it seemed to be of her sisters. 
Marriage was all right if it was built on true 


11 


The Sewing Bee 

love, as slie was sure this marriage of Mary 
Louise ^s was to be. In her heart of hearts Eliza- 
beth wanted to write but she thought she had not 
lived long enough to have anything to write 
about. 

Dear Mary Louise Burrows! How happy she 
looked with her friends gathered around her on 
her grandfather’s piazza! That piazza was a 
favorite place for the girls to assemble and now 
that Mary Louise was so soon to marry Danny 
Dexter it was almost a daily occurrence for them 
to meet there. Irene MacFarlane was there in 
her wheel chair, her countenance as calm and 
peaceful as ever, while her busy fingers embroid- 
ered a wonderfully dainty bit of lingerie for 
her friend’s trousseau. Alora Jones was there, 
not looking much happier than she had formerly, 
although her three millions had been almost 
doubled in the last few years, thanks to the war 
activities that wealth had indulged in. Poor 
Alora found it difficult to let herself go. Her 
wealth made her suspicious. Because she had 
been imposed upon once, she was ever looking 
out for similar experiences. She was happier 
with this band of friends, tried and true, than 
with anybody else in the world. Certainly they 


Jl 


12 Mary Louise At Dor field 

wanted nothing from her but friendship and 
that Her shy heart was eager to give. Her artist 
father encouraged her in seeking out these whole- 
some, normal girls, hoping through them his 
daughter would begin to value life for what it 
was worth. 

We are cursed with money, Alora,’’ he would 
say, but for Heaven’s sake, let’s forget it. In 
the meantime we must give and give! ” 

Pretty Laura Hilton was there, as small and 
bird-like as ever. By her sat Lucile Neal, who 
had inherited an executive ability from her 
father, the owner of the Neal Automobile Fac- 
tory, and whose clear judgment was ever in de- 
mand when Mary Louise and her friends had any 
project on foot. Edna Barlow, the only poor 
girl in the group, was in the hammock with Jane 
Donovan, the daughter of Dorfield’s mayor. 

All of the girls were sewing on Mary Louise’s 
trousseau. It was Irene’s idea that they should 
meet together in this way and busy themselves 
with this labor of love. 

To return to jobs,” said Elizabeth. ‘‘I’m 
going to find out what pays best and learn how 
to do it and then bust loose from my family. 
If they don’t like it, they can lump it. I want a 


The Sewing Bee 


13 


latchkey and a bank account of my own. As it 
is, if I^m not in the house at a certain time, 
there is a hue and ciy and father begins on what 
young ladies did in his day and Gertrude and 
Annabel look shocked and Pauline and Mar- 
garet say they would never be guilty of such 
unladylike behavior and they all agree that men 
don^t like independent girls and Idl never get 
a suspicion of a beau if I don’t mend my ways 
— as though I wanted one if I’d have to make 
myself over to get him! ” 

And what does your mother say? ” laughed 
Mary Louise. 

Oh, Mother doesn’t say anything. She is 
always so busy she doesn’t even know I’m not 
there. With two servants in the house Mother 
still manages never to be idle one moment in 
the day. She is always baking and brewing, 
sewing and dusting, cleaning out closets or 
bureau drawers, airing beds, rubbing furniture, 
cleaning silver, doing a million and one things 
that the maids could do just as well as she. 
The truth of the matter is Mother should have 
had a profession outside of being a wife and 
mother. She has too much energy and efficiency 
to waste on a mere home.” 


14 Mary Louise. At Dor field 

But a mere home is the greatest thing in the 
world/’ said Mary Louise, softly. 

Oh, yes, it is a good enough place, but it can 
be pretty uncomfortable with somebody always 
making you move to sweep under you. Why, my 
mother could run a big hotel and still have time 
to spare to keep the church sewing circle going. ’ ’ 

She must be very unselfish,” said Laura 
Hilton, whose own mother was noted for being 
the best dressed and most frivolous woman in 
Dorfield, though very charming and kind-hearted 
withal. 

‘‘ Oh, I don’t know about that! ” answered 
Elizabeth. She is never so happy as when she 
is bustling around doing for people. She would 
let all of us girls sleep all day and then cook 
breakfast herself and bring it up to us and have 
the time of her life doing it. I think it would be 
a great deal more unselfish if she would let us 
help and expend some of her energy on making 
us be a little more efficient instead of being so 
perfect herself. ’ ’ 

Have you decided yet, Mary Louise, where 
and when you will be married? ” asked Irene, 
gently changing the subject. Irene had the 
faculty of turning the conversation into smoother 


The Sewing Bee 15 

channels when she saw breakers ahead. Criti- 
cism of one’s mother and home was not conducive 
to smooth sailing for the ship of conversation. 

About decided,” blushed Mary Louise. 

Danny and I think it would be nice to be 
married right here at home with only our inti- 
mate friends present. We haven’t any relations 
to speak of, neither one of us. Danny has his 
Uncle Jim 0 ’Kara and I have Grandpa Jim — a 
Jim apiece and that is all. We have lots of inti- 
mate friends, though, when we begin to count up. 
Of course Danny wants to ask every man in his 
regiment besides all the friends he has made at 
the Neal Automobile Factory.” 

Father and the boys say he is the most popu- 
lar man in the works in the short time he has 
been with them,” said Lucile. 

Mary Louise blushed again. She was frankly 
delighted at the praise bestowed upon her fiance. 
Danny’s popularity was very delightful to the 
girl and indeed it spoke very well for Danny 
Dexter that Dorfield was receiving him with open 
arms. He had come to the town unknown, poor, 
friendless except for the men in his regiment 
who one and all pronounced him a trump. All 
of his worldly possessions he could get in his 


16 


Mary Louise At Dor field 

army kit. But on his battle scarred face was a 
smile that was worth more than silver and gold 
and when he had won, right under the noses of a 
host of admirers, the love of the prettiest and 
most attractive girl in town, the rejected and 
dejected suitors of Mary Louise Burrows bore 
him no grudge but were willing to come dance 
at his wedding. 

Here comes Mrs. Markle! ” exclaimed Mary 
Louise. She has been so kind to me and Mr. 
Markle is perfectly dear to Danny. Both of 
them are so charming that we appreciate their 
seeing anything in us worth knowing.’^ 

“ Pooh! ” cried Elizabeth Wright. ‘‘ Every- 
body thinks you and Danny are worth knowing. 
The Markles aren’t so much of a muchness.” 

Oh, but they are lovely! Don’t you think 
so, Irenes ” asked Mary Louise. 

“ I don’t know them very well,” responded 
Irene. If you like them so much they must be 
worth knowing, however.” 

Mary Louise looked at her friend, astonish- 
ment expressed in her countenance. That did 
not sound like Irene MacFarlane. What faint 
praise she gave the Markles! And her voice 
sounded so cold. What could be the matter! 


17 


The Sewing Bee 

Could she be jealous of these new friends? 
Hardly that! Of course, Irene had been her 
first and only friend when Mary Louise came to 
Dorfield and stayed with Irene’s uncle, Mr. Peter 
Conant and his wife, dear Aunt Hannah. But 
since then she, Mary Louise, had made acquaint- 
ance with almost everybody in town and it would 
take all her fingers and toes to count her intimate 
girl friends. Irene had never shown jealousy be- 
fore but had been as eager to enlarge her ac- 
quaintance as Mary Louise herself. Poor Irene 
was lame and had spent the whole of her life 
either on her back or in the wheel chair. She 
had an intense interest in humanity in general 
and girls in particular. Her friendship with 
Mary Louise had opened up a new life for the 
poor girl, bringing her more and more in touch 
with the outside world. But why this coldness 
where the Markles were concerned! 

Nobody could deny that the Markles were a 
delightful couple. Mrs. Markle was a woman of 
about thirty, while her husband was nearer fifty 
but he seemed to be as fond of young people as 
his wife. They were strangers in Dorfield, hav- 
ing settled there since the war, but already they, 
had taken a place in the society of the town and 


18 Mary Louise At Dor field 

were looked upon as agreeable additions to tbe 
four hundred of Dorfield. Mr. Markle was en- 
gaged in the real estate business, which seemed 
to be thriving. To be sure, they liv^d in a small 
apartment, but it was in one of the best houses 
in town and, while they were not classed with 
the reckless spenders, they entertained fre- 
quently and in lavish style. The soft Persian 
rugs and exquisite paintings and etchings filled 
their apartment with harmony and beauty. There 
were cabinets of rare and wonderful curios, book- 
cases of first editions and carved furniture that 
looked as though it belonged in museums, so 
wonderful was it in design and finish. 


CHAPTER II 


A BOSE AND A SONG 

As Mrs. Markle tripped up the steps of Colonel 
Hathaway’s porch, where the girls were holding 
their sewing bee, one conld hut wonder why 
Irene MacFarlane should have been chary of 
her praise of anyone so altogether charming. 
She was perfect from the tips of her tiny grey 
suede shoes to the hat which shaded the piquant 
face at just the right angle. Nature had not 
only endowed Hortense Markle with a rare and 
glowing beauty but hers also was the gift of 
knowing exactly how to clothe that beauty. 
Every portion of her costume was as carefully 
thought out and planned by the little artist as 
had been the rarest of her rugs by some Hindu 
weaver or the most choice of her pictures by 
some famous painter. She delighted in soft 
greys and pastel shades which set off to perfec- 
tion her rich, almost oriental, beauty. 

She knows perfectly well if she wore bril- 
liant colors they would be becoming but would 
19 


20 


Mary Louise At Dorfield 

coarsen her/^ Irene said to herself as she 
watched the charming little lady mount the steps, 
her arm around Mary Louise, who had hurried 
down the walk to meet her new friend. 

Oh, why didn’t you girls let me know you 
were here sewing? I have been so lonely sitting 
up in my stu:ffy little apartment all alone. Only 
think, I might have been here all morning hav- 
ing such a pleasant time with all of you! I 
believe you think I am too old for you.” 

This she said so gaily, giving such a ringing 
laugh at the thought of anybody’s thinking she 
was too old, that all the girls joined in, even 
Irene. Irene had wondered at herself as much 
as Mary Louise had. For the life of her she 
could not account for a feeling of antipathy that 
she felt for both Mr. and Mrs. Markle. It was 
not like her to take unaccountable dislikes, or 
even accountable ones. Her theory of life was 
to live and let live and her sympathy embraced 
all mankind, good and bad alike. Why could she 
not find room in her heart for this charming, 
beautiful young woman whose manner to her had 
always been gracious and kind! 

It is just a case of Dr. Fell,” Irene said to 
herself. 


A Rose and a Song 21 

‘‘ ‘ I do not like thee, Dr. Pell — 

The reason why I cannot tell; 

But one thing ’tis, I know full well: 

I do not like thee, Dr. Pell. ^ ^ 

She determined, however, to keep her unrea- 
sonable sentiments to herself and at least to be 
as cordial and polite to Mary Louise’s guest as 
she could manage to be. 

We sew here almost every morning,” said 
Irene. We are helping to make Mary Louise’s 
trousseau. ’ ’ 

How charming! Please let me help. Sew- 
ing is my one accomplishment.” 

A thimble was found to fit the tapering finger 
and Mrs. Markle was soon as busy as the others 
in their task of love. 

I wish I could sew better,” exclaimed Eliza- 
beth Wright. I am going to have to pick out 
this foolish little flower that I have been trying 
so hard to make look as though it were growing 
on Mary Louise’s camisole. There now! I’ve 
cut a hole in it ! Oh, what a stupid I am ! Eight 
in the middle of the garment and this crepe de 
chine costs ’steen dollars a yard! Oh me, oh 
my ! I told you girls I ought to go into business 
and not try to be so girlie.” 


22 


Mary Louise At Dor field 

‘‘ Let me see if I can’t set you right,” said 
Mrs. Markle. I am a past mistress at patch- 
ing.” She took the garment from the unresist- 
ing hands of Elizabeth, quickly ripped out the 
crooked flower that poor Elizabeth had been 
vainly endeavoring to embroider on it and then, 
with deft sure fingers and a needle so fine one 
could hardly see it, she inserted an invisible patch 
where the cruel scissors had slipped. This needle 
she took from the lining of her velvet hand bag. 
It was much smaller than any found in the work 
boxes of the girls. Irene remarked on it. 

I never can get such tiny needles as that,” 
she said. Perhaps if I could manage to shop 
for myself I might find one.” 

Oh, I’ll be delighted to give you some! ” 
cried the older Tt^oman. ^ ‘ I am like you : I sim- 
ply cannot sew with a spike.” 

That will be very kind of you,” said Irene, 
wishing she could be as pleasant to Mrs. Markle 
as Mrs. Markle was to her and hoping that her 
sentiments were not voiced in her words. She 
was trying hard to get over her feeling of dis- 
like and distrust for the beautiful little lady but, 
even though she should give her a thousand fairy 
needles, she knew that she could not like her. 


23 


A Rose and a Song 

She watched the process of putting in the in- 
visible patch. It was the most perfect piece of 
needlework she had ever seen and Irene herself 
did all hut perfect work. 

‘‘ How on earth do you do it? she exclaimed. 
<< Why, one cannot tell where the patch is! ’’ 

The girls crowded around to see the little 
patch. If Irene did not know how to do it it 
must be wonderful indeed. 

‘‘It is quite easy when once you learn, 
laughed Mrs. Markle. “ I learned at the convent 
in Paris. First be sure and match the warp and 
woof of your material. It takes sharp eyes, but 
one thread out of place is fatal. Then use a bit 
of raveled crepe de chine for your thread and 
the rest is all plain sailing. Practice makes per- 
fect. Now shall I embroider a rose over the 
place? 

“ Oh, do! cried Elizabeth, “ and please 
somebody give me some plain basting to do on 
gingham aprons if the bride is to have such 
things.^’ 

“ Don’t you have to have a pattern for your 
rose? ” asked Irene, reaching for her workbag. 
“ I have some patterns here, very pretty ones, 
and some tracing paper.” 


24 Mary Louise At Dorfield 

“ No, thank you! I just make up as I go 
along — 

^ ‘ Like the wonderful rug weavers of India, ’ ’ 
cried Alora. ‘ ‘ Do you sing a song as you go and 
weave the music into your work as they do, Mrs. 
Marklel 

<< Why, yes, sometimes! But please don’t call 
me Mrs. Markle. I’m not so terribly old and 
you don’t know how I long to have someone call 
me by my own name, Hortense.” 

Doesn’t Mr. Markle! ” ' 

‘ ‘ He calls me Pet. Awfully silly, but he 
always has. ,I think it would be so pleasant if 
all of you girls would just call me Hortense. 
Won’t you! ” She smiled so brightly on the 
ring of girls grouped around her that they suc- 
cumbed to her charms. Even Irene melted a bit 
and decided that perhaps she did like the little 
lady a tiny bit after all. Anyone who could put 
in an invisible patch must be a desirable 
acquaintance. 

“You see it has been many years since I 
have been with my own people and so few ever 
call me anything, but Mrs. Markle. It is very 
lonesome to have persons so formal.” 

As she talked she had been deftly outlining a 


25 


A Rose mid a Song 

rose on the front of the camisole, drawing it 
with needle and thread with strokes as sure as 
those of a great flower painter. Then choosing 
her silk from Irene ^s basket she began to em- 
broider. Irene was spellbound in her attention. 
The first petal took form under the flying fingers 
as though by magic. 

And then the woman sang. It seemed hardly 
fair that anyone so beautiful and clever as Hor- 
tense Markle should also have a voice, but voice 
she did have of a rich depth that thrilled her 
audience. 

‘ Gather ye rosebuds while ye may. 

Old Time is still a flying: 

And the same flower that smiles to-day 
To-morrow will be dying. 

The glorious land of heaven, the sun. 

The higher he’s a-getting. 

The sooner will his race be run. 

And nearer he’s to setting. 

That age is best which is the first. 

When youth and blood are warmer; 

But being spent, the worse and worst 
Times still succeed the former. 


26 


Mary Louise At Dor field 

Then be not coy, but use your time, 

And while ye may, go marry : 

For having lost but once your prime. 

You may forever tarry.” 

‘‘ Lovely! Lovely! ” cried the girls. 

I donT know that tune,” said Laura Hilton, 
who had a sweet little voice of her own with a 
bird-like note and was ever in search of songs 
•that would fit it. I know the words, Herrick’s, 
aren’t they! But the tune is different from any 
I have ever heard.” 

It has a kind of teasing quality,” said Alora. 

The tune is my own,” declared the singer. 

‘‘ Then you can write music too! ” cried Irene. 
This was surely a remarkable person for her to 
take an unreasonable dislike to. 

‘‘ Not write it — just sing it. I don’t know 
one note from the other except by ear,” 
answered Mrs. Markle still busily embroidering. 

I think the tune was fine,” put in Elizabeth, 
but I can’t hand a thing to the words. Always 
hammering on girls to get married! It sounds 
too like home to me. I bet anything old Herrick 
was as withered and dried up as a salt herring. 
Losing his own prime was nothing. He, as a 


A Rose and a Song 


27 


man, was perfectly sure that he was still attract- 
ive, married or unmarried — but the poor girls 
— it makes me more and more determined to get 
me a job.’’ 

They all laughed heartily at Elizabeth’s taking 
the song personally and Mrs. Markle was much 
interested in what the girl expected to do and 
how soon she intended to begin doing it. 

“ I don’t blame you at all for wanting to do 
something. I often feel myself I should like to 
but Felix is so opposed. He is away so much I 
could easily carry on some occupation besides 
home making. What are you thinking of 
doing? ” 

“ I don’t know. I can type but I don’t want 
to be a stenographer, at least I don’t want to be 
a man’s stenographer. Somebody might think 
it was up to me to marry the creature. I’d like 
to have a shop — a kind of literary work-shop — 
where one could get manuscript typed ; where bud- 
ding authors could have their spelling corrected 
and their punctuation put to rights. I’m a queen 
bee on spelling and punctuation. I might even 
write obituaries and valedictories for the going 
and coming. I might combine a kind of clipping 
bureau with it for folks who like to see their 


28 Mary Louise At Dor field 

names in print. Of course I’d have to have a 
partner. ’ ’ 

“ The very thing! ” cried Mary Louise. A 
friend of mine, Josie O’Gorman, wants to come 
to Dorfield to settle and she could go in with 
you. Josie is financially independent, hut she 
says she simply must do something. You know 
her father was the great detective. He died last 
month,” she explained to Mrs. Markle. 

See, I have finished the rose! ” Hortense 
interrupted and held it up for their inspection. 
It was so natural that one almost expected a 
fragrance to arise from it. 

‘‘ But look! M^at is that on the edge of this 
petal? ” cried Irene, who was bending over the 
embroidery entranced by its perfectness. It 
looks like a tiny faded place.” 

“ So it is! That is where the tune got woven 
into my picture. 

‘ The same flower that smiles to-day 
To-morrow will be dying.’ ” 

‘‘ Oh! ” was all Irene could say, but she began 
all over to hate Hortense Markle for suggesting 
fading flowers where Mary Louise’s trousseau 
was concerned. ‘‘It wasn’t kind! It wasn’t 
kind! ” she kept on saying to herself. 


CHAPTER m 


MATKON OF HONOR 

‘‘We were speaking of Mary Louise’s wedding 
when you came in,” Alora said to Mrs. Markle. 

“ And Danny’s! ” put in Mary Louise. 

“ Oh, of course, Danny’s! Danny may he a 
wonder but he doesn’t count much on his own 
wedding day. That day is the bride’s,” laughed 
Alora. 

“You are to have a church wedding, I 
fancy,” said Mrs. Markle. 

“No, we are to be married here at home. 
Grandpa Jim much prefers it and so do Danny 
and 1.” 

“ Oh, then of course it must be at home. Your 
house is large but the rooms do not open into 
each other for the best effect for a wedding. 
'Why don’t you be married out of doors? ” sug- 
gested Mrs. Markle. “ It would be lovely. The 
guests could stand all along these terraces or 
anywhere they chose and the bridal party could 
approach through the opening in that wonderful 
29 


30 


Mary Louise At Dor field 

old yew hedge. It would be a beautiful picture. 
I can see it now! ’’ and sbe waved ber band 
towards tbe fine old sunken garden wbicb was 
tbe pride of Colonel Hatbaway and bis grand- 
daughter. 

Tbe very thing! exclaimed Elizabeth. 

DonT you think so, Irene! ” 

It would be lovely. ’ ^ 

Grandpa Jim would like it a lot, I am sure,’^ 
said Mary Louise. 

You are to have bridesmaids, of course,’’ 
continued Mrs. Markle. Let them dress in 
pastel shades of palest and softest hue and 
carry sweet peas.” 

‘‘ That will be great if we have different 
colors,” put in Elizabeth. I am crazy about 
being a bridesmaid, but I must say I am not 
crazy about going around with about seven twins 
for the rest of tbe summer.” 

‘‘ You are to have eight bridesmaids, then! ” 
asked Mrs. Markle as sbe and ber hostess went 
down to the garden to plan. 

“ Yes, eight besides my maid of honor,” 
explained Mary Louise. You see, I couldn’t 
bear to leave out any of tbe girls.” 

‘‘ And who is the maid of honor! ” 


Matron of Honor 31 

Irene MacFarlane! She is the very best 
friend I have in the whole world. 

But how can she be a maid of honor in a 
chair? 

I don^t know, but she must be. In the house 
she can roll around quite easily. I am not sure 
about it out of doors but, if she can’t, we will 
abandon the idea of having it out in the garden. ’ ’ 
Mary Louise spoke quite decidedly. 

That would be a pity.” 

Yes, but I must have Irene.” 

Mary Louise had always said if she ever mar- 
ried she would have her dear friend as maid of 
honor and Irene had felt a fierce pride in the 
fact that she was chosen. She realized the 
moment the plan was suggested of having the 
ceremony out of doors that this honor was not 
to be hers. She could run her chair with great 
skill on smooth floors but she felt it would be 
awkward indeed to try to do it in the garden 
and then she felt that in some way she would 
mar the picture. She too could close her eyes 
and see the effect of the outdoor wedding with 
the old yew hedge as a background and the beds 
of old-fashioned flowers adding to the beauty of 
the scene ; the bride in white and the eight brides- 


32 Mary Louise At Dor field 

maids in the pastel shades suggested by Her- 
tense Markle. 

“ It will be beautiful and I must quietly get 
out of the picture, ’ ’ Irene said to herself. It hurt 
her to think of it. The girl was sure she would 
never marry herself, nobody would ever want to 
marry such a poor little deformed person. She 
had settled that long ago, but it would have been 
pleasant to be the next one to the bride. Even 
that pleasure must be taken from her and she 
herself must be the one to put it away. She 
looked sadly after the girls as they trooped into 
the garden to join Mary Louise and Mrs. Markle. 

‘‘ If she only had not suggested the outdoor 
wedding \ ’ ^ she sighed. ‘ ‘ But I must not harbor 
resentment against Mrs. Markle. She is charm- 
ing and so clever. Instead I must try to like 
her. I wish I could sew as well as she can.^’ 

She picked up the dainty camisole whereon 
Hortense had embroidered the exquisite rose and 
examined it closely. She took from her basket 
a little magnifying glass she occasionally made 
use of in doing very fine embroidery. Through 
the glass she could see where the patch had been 
inserted. 

“ I must not look at people through a magni- 


Matron of Honor 33 

fying glass/’ she mused. ‘‘If it magnified their 
perfections it would be all right, but it seems 
only to show up their faults. I have shown a 
poor spirit myself this morning, and if I turned 
the magnifying glass on my own soul, it would 
disclose many ugly patches and gashes.” She 
put her hand over her eyes and offered a silent 
prayer for a just and contrite spirit. 

When the girls came back from the garden, 
they found Irene with a smile on her sensitive 
face and on her lips a gay little tune she was 
humming. 

“ I do hope you have decided to have the wed- 
ding out of doors,” she cried. “If it is out of 
doors, I can see it too, as I will be a spectator. 
From my chair I can see the procession as it 
comes through the yew hedge and follows the 
garden walk.” 

‘ ‘ But, Irene — ’ ’ began Mary Louise. 

“ Don’t but Irene me,” laughed’ the girl. “ As 
for bridesmaids : they are like the purple cow to 
me, ‘ I’d rather see than be one.’ Let me be 
a kind of vestal virgin, stationed near the altar. ’ ’ 

“ But I have always said that I would have no 
maid of honor but you,” declared Mary Louise, 
“ and I won’t.” 


34 Mary Louise At Dor field 

‘‘You shall have to swallow your words then, 
my dear,’^ insisted Irene. 

“ If not a maid, you might have a matron,’^ 
suggested Hortense. 

“ Certainly, agreed Irene. 

“ Nobody could take the place of Irene, 
objected Mary Louise. 

“ But, honey, a place in a wedding procession 
is not a place in your heart,’’ whispered Irene, 
drawing her friend close to her. 

“ I have heard brides say that, unless they 
have an attendant, the thing is hard to go 
through with,” said Hortense. “ Of course you 
might go on your grandfather’s arm, but it is 
not quite so picturesque as having all* girls. 
Black coats, when all is told, are ugly affairs.” 

“ Grandpa Jim would rather not be too much 
in evidence, I think. The truth of the matter is 
he is afraid he might get stage fright. He says 
it is hard enough on him to have to give me 
away. Will you be my matron of honor, Hor- 
tense? ” 

“ But, my dear, you must have closer and 
dearer friends than I am among the young mar- 
ried people. Nobody who loves you more, 
but--” 


35 


Matron of Honor 

Please/’ begged Mary Louise. 

<< Why, of course! I feel more flattered than 
I can say.” 

And so it was settled. 

We must plan the dresses, making each color 
the one the wearer prefers. I must wear pale 
grey, as I am merely the bride ’s shadow. I must 
not show much.” 

‘ And I want pink ! ’ ’ cried one. 

“ And I blue! ” said another. And so on until 
all the colors in the rainbow and some others 
were appropriated either by the girls present for 
themselves or for the absent members. 

‘‘ Suppose it rains! ” suggested Elizabeth. 

‘‘But it couldn’t and it wouldn’t!” cried 
Lucile. “ Not on Mary Louise’s wedding day.” 

Irene was quietly gathering up her sewing 
things preparatory to her departure. As the 
girls discussed their bridesmaids’ dresses, she 
glanced at Hortense and could not help noting 
a kind of triumph in her bearing. 


CHAPTER IV 

JOSIE O^GOEMAN 

Detective 0 ^Gorman death while he was 
abroad on United States Secret Service brought 
sadness to the hearts of many, even to some of 
the criminals whom his almost uncanny powers 
had been instrumental in bringing to justice. 

A good thief has some respect for a good 
detective,’^ one noted cracksman, who was serv- 
ing his term in the penitentiary, was heard to 
say when the news came that his one-time enemy 
was no more. There is pleasure in trying to 
circumvent a man like 0 ^Gorman, but most of 
these so-called detectives have gone into the 
business because they have failed as life insur- 
ance agents. It is no fun trying to get ahead of 
them. They are too easy.’^ 

Little Josie O’Gorman mourned keenly the 
loss of her father. He had been everything to 
her and it was hard to feel that he was gone aud 
she was never to see his dear, homely face again. 
Not that Josie thought his face was homely. 

36 


Josie O^Gormcm 


37 


She considered his funny fat nose more classic 
than the one worn by the sculptured Adonis and 
much more fitting to follow a scent; and his 
round eyes that could narrow down to slits when 
he got on the right track in a big case were to 
the daughter more expressive than Wallace 
Eeid’s or any other movie heroes. 

Crushed at first by the blow of his sudden 
death, Josie had felt that never again could she 
go about the business of living; but the girl 
came of sturdy stock and she knew too well that 
her father would have been disappointed in her 
if she had given up to the grief that was well 
nigh overwhelming her. 

I must do as he would wish me to do. He 
would never sit and mope,’’ she declared to her- 
self and immediately wrote to Mary Louise that 
she was thinking of coming to setle in Dorfield, 
as Washington was too sad for her right then. 

I am not going to stay with you, though, 
honey,” she wrote. But must have a place of 
my own. I’ll engage in some business because 
I don’t know how to be idle. I must hunt a 
partner and perhaps I might get a flat and go to 
housekeeping.” 

When Elizabeth Wright told Mary Louise of 


38 Mary Louise At Dor field 

lier unrest and determination to leave the ranks 
of unproductive consumers, Mary Louise imme- 
diately thought of Josie and how well the two 
girls might hit it off together. 

Josie came, a sad little figure. 

Sadder than she would be if she had on 
mourning,’^ Mary Louise said to herself as she 
embraced her friend at the station. 

‘‘ I guess you expected to see me in mourn- 
ing,’’ Josie said as they took their seats in Mary 
Louise’s car. ‘‘ Somehow I’d like to have it on, 
but Father hated it so that I decided not to wear 
it. He used to say that people in dripping 
black simply exuded gloom and had no right to 
impose their sorrows an all around them. I 
must do what he wanted.” 

‘‘ That’s a brave girl! ” cried Mary Louise, 
holding her close for a moment before she started 
the car. ‘‘ I think the war has changed people’s 
ideas concerning mourning. But you should have 
a gold star. Your father certainly was serving 
Uncle Sam just as much as a soldier. ’ ’ 

That is what I think and so I have a gold 
star, but I wear it where it can’t be seen. It is 
just as much satisfaction to me and I can feel 
it shining on my heart. But tell me about your- 


Josie O^GorfyirCm 39 

self! Wlieii are you and Danny going to begin 
to trot in double harness? 

‘ ‘ In six weeks ! This is the fifteenth of April 
and we have set the first of June. I am so sorry 
you wonT be a bridesmaid.’’ 

‘‘ Well, I will be one in spirit, but just now I 
can’t quite make up my mind to go through with 
it in the flesh. When you wrote asking me, I 
was just as happy as could be that you wanted 
me, but I felt that I must not try. The fact that 
you did ask me though is shining on my heart 
just like the gold star.” 

‘‘ And now I believe I have a partner for you. 
I don’t know just what you mean to do and 
neither does your partner, but she means to do 
something. ’ ’ 

WeU so do I, and that makes a good begin- 
ning towards congeniality,” laughed Josie. 

Have you any ideas? ” 

“ A few! ” 

- ‘‘ So has Ehzabeth Wright.” 

Is that my partner’s name? I know I shall 
like her. I always do like Elizabeths. I’m aw- 
fully funny about names. Some names I simply 
can’t stand. Persons who have those names have 
to prove themselves to be worthy before I accept 


40 Mary Louise At Dor field 

them, while the ones who have the na,mes I like 
have a hard time proving themselves unworthy. 
I try to have an open mind where names are 
concerned, realizing that it is no fault of the 
namee but of the parents.’’ 

Did I have to prove myself worthy before 
you accepted me I ” asked Mary Louise, amused 
as usual by her friend’s whimsical way of look- 
ing at things. 

‘‘Not at all! Your name was one of my 
strongest reasons for coming to your rescue, 
hiring myself to Mrs. Conant as a servant so that 
I might guard your interests and prove your 
grandfather’s innocence. I felt in my heart 
that the grandfather of a Mary Louise must be 
good. ’ ’ 

“ Well, your instincts were right that time. 
I believe really and truly that Grandpa Jim is 
the best man in the world.” 

“Now that my father is gone, I think maybe 
he is,” said Josie earnestly. 

The girls were silent for a while as they sped 
through the streets of Dorfield. Finally, Mary 
Louise spoke: 

“ What are your ideas for an occupation? ” 

“ Of course, my work in life is unraveling 


Josie 0^ Gorman 


41 


mysteries and I mean to be as clever a detective 
as my father’s daughter should be, but. I have an 
idea that the best way to succeed is to keep it 
dark. Now this is my plan; I want to have a 
shop of some sort where all kinds of persons will 
come, where I can get in touch with all condi- 
ditions of folk and they will think I am just the 
shopkeeper and have no idea of my real calling. ’ ’ 
‘‘ Oh, Josie, you are so clever! ” 

Not a bit of it! Don’t begin flattering me 
or I’ll approach my work in the wrong spirit. 
Father always said one must have a humble and 
contrite heart or the fine points would slip by.” 

What kind of shop were you contemplat- 
ing? ” 

Something quite different from any shop 
Dorfield now boasts. But you tell me what 
this Elizabeth was thinking of so she can get the 
credit if she deserves it. We may have had the 
same plans in mind. Ideas seem to be in the air 
like flocks of birds and the same ones or ones 
of the same family light on several persons at 
the same time.” 

‘ ‘ Elizabeth wants a literary work-shop, where 
one could get manuscript typed and corrected. 
She thought she might combine a clipping bureau 


42 


Mary Louise At Dorfield 

with it and even write articles for persons who 
had not the brains to do their own work. She 
says she could do obituaries and valedictories and 
club papers for aspiring females, also speeches 
for politicians. Elizabeth is very clever but 
comes of the stuffiest, most conservative family. 
The mother is one of those women who are work 
crazy but never want their daughters to raise 
their hands and the father is living about fifty 
years too late. Mrs. Wright would have been a 
wonder if she had had the outlook to go into 
business instead of wasting all her energies on 
cleaning and cooking and getting husbands for 
her daughters. Elizabeth is dead tired of being 
what she calls ‘ an unproductive consumer.’ The 
taste she had of being at work and drawing a 
salary during the war has ruined her as far as 
taking her place in the family of daughters, all 
of them striving towards the matrimonial goal. 
Elizabeth is determined to break the bonds.” 

‘ ‘ Bully for Elizabeth ! She sounds fine to me. 
I like the idea of the literary work-shop and 
clipping bureau. Does she know shorthand as 
well as typewriting! ” 

I believe she knows it but has no speed, 
having just picked it up by herself.” 


Josie O' Gorman 


43 


Better and better! She is the kind that 
picks things up by herself. When can I see my 
partner? ’’ 

‘‘ She will come to see you this morning. 
Elizabeth always wants to get what she is inter- 
ested in going immediately. She is like her 
mother in some ways but a much more comfort- 
able person to be with.’' 

They found Elizabeth Wright awaiting them 
when they arrived at Colonel Hathaway’s resi- 
dence. 

Please excuse me if I have come too soon, 
but I couldn’t wait,” she cried as she came for- 
ward ta embrace Mary Louise and shake hands 
wdth her future partner. 

You couldn’t come too soon for me, but 
Josie may be tired after her long trip,” sug- 
gested Mary Louise. 

‘‘ Not at all! I never let a trip tire me. My 
father used to say that it was onnsense for per- 
sons to get tired on a trip. ‘ Just let the engine 
do the work and sit back and read and think and 
mix with your fellow passengers and you won’t 
get tired. The persons who let a journey make 
them tired are usually the ones who feel some- 
how that they must help pull the cars.’ ” 


44 


Mary Louise At Dor field 

Elizabetli langbed. Already she was liking this 
funny little friend of Mary Louise. What an 
amusing looking person she was! Her features 
were not plain, although certainly not beautiful. 
Her hair was decidedly red, her face freckled 
but with a healthy color which kept the freckles 
from being too apparent. Her eyes were her 
best points, although at times she could make 
those eyes as stolid and dim as a half-wit’s. Her 
teeth were excellent, but as she usually laughed 
with her eyes one seldom saw her teeth. Elizabeth 
thought her face was interesting. 

Josie O’Gorman was older than Mary Louise 
and her other friends, but there was something 
very youthful about her little figure and as she 
always dressed in misses’ sizes and cuts she 
could easily have passed for seventeen, although 
she was at least twenty-two. She said she 
bought juvenile clothes because they fitted her 
small figure and because they were especially 
designed for boarding school girls who were late 
for breakfast and had no time to fool with hooks 
and eyes. Her favorite style of dress was a 
one-piece affair that slipped over her head like 
a middy blouse. It hung in straight pleats from 
yoke to hem, confined loosely at the waist by a 


Josie 0^ Gorman 


45 


low hanging leather belt. Her headgear was 
always a straight brimmed sailor and her shoes 
of a broad-toed, low-heeled, sensible style. In 
the winter she wore blue serge in the morning, 
white serge in the evening and heavy white rajah 
silk for dress-up. In the summer, it was blue 
linen in the morning, white linen in the evening 
and linen lawn or crepe de chine for dress-up. 
Josie always looked fresh and well dressed, if 
not in the latest fashion, and she had to take no 
thought whatsover concerning her apparel, not 
even as much as a man, since she had no collar 
button with which to contend and no stiff collars 
to be frayed out by heartless laundries. She 
could carry everything she possessed in a small 
wardrobe trunk with its convenient compart- 
ments for different garments. She always kept 
her clothes in her trunk whether she was at 
home or on a visit and a neat handbag ready 
packed with a change of linen and toilet articles 
in case of a sudden journey being sprung upon 
her. That was the result of her father’s 
training. 

Detective O’Gorman used to say: If we are 

to track criminals we must be as ready as crim- 
inals and I am sure no thief or murderer worthy 


46 


Mary Louise At Dor field 

of the name would have to stop and paok a grip 
to go on an enforced trip whether he knew he 
was hounded or not.’^ 

Josie desired above all things to be as much 
like her father as a young girl could be like a 
middle-aged man and she was bidding fair to 
succeed. 

She constantly quoted her father, who had been 
full of wise saws. Sometimes Jo ^e gave him 
credit for sayings that were well .nown to have 
belonged either to Solomon or Good Eichard, but 
the devoted daughter was sure they had origi- 
nated with Detective O’Gorman and those other 
two less brilliant gentlemen had plagiarized his 
wisdom. 

Now tell us, Josie, what are your plans for 
a shop? ’’ suggested Mary Louise after Eliza- 
beth and Josie had finished sizing each other up. 

I have told Josie what you are contemplating, 
Elizabeth. ’ ’ 

‘ ‘ My idea is a kind of higgledy-piggledy place, 
a place where one can get anything under heaven 
that is needed, because, if we happen not to be 
carrying it in stock, we will take orders for it if 
there is time to wait for an order or we will go 
out and shop for it if the thing can be bought 


Josie 0^ Gorman 


47 


in Dorfield. We will bargain to furnish any- 
thing from strawberries in January to informa- 
tion concerning the identity of the doorkeeper in 
Congress who dropped dead when news came of 
Cornwallis’ surrender. I know of a shop called 
^ The Serendipity Shop.’ That, I believe, is the 
name Leigh Hunt gave to a place where one 
could go in and find out anything. But that has 
too erudite and obscure a meaning for us, who 
mean to be quite plain and simple. I think 
Higgledy-Piggledy Shop would be a grand name 
for us. Don’t you I 

“ Splendid! ” was the verdict of both her 
listeners. 

I have perhaps the most complete collection 
of encyclopedias and dictionaries outside of the 
Congressional Library. Father was da:ffy about 
exact information and had systematically col- 
lected all books that professed to contain such 
information from ^ Inquire Within, 3,700 Facts 
for the People,’ to the latest and most down-to- 
date dictionary of war slang. These books will 
be invaluable.” 

‘ ‘ Will you let our customers — clients — 
patients — whatever we will call them, have 
access to these books? ” asked Elizabeth. 


48 Mary Lomse At Dor field 

Not on your life! No more than doctors let 
us read their books for fear we might cure our- 
selves and they would be minus fees.’’ 


CHAPTER V 


THE WRIGHT FAMILY 

The Wright family was up in arms over Eliza- 
beth’s decision ‘‘to go into trade.” That was 
the way they expressed the fact that their daugh- 
ter and sister was going to open up the Higgledy- 
Piggledy Shop with the unstylish girl from 
Washington. 

“ What will people say? ” questioned Ger- 
trude. 

“ I haven’t a doubt it will simply ruin her 
chances for ever having a proposal,” said Anna- 
bel. “ Elizabeth is pretty enough, but she is 
so peculiar. Men don’t like peculiar girls.” 

“ She is so selfish to be doing such a silly 
thing,” complained Pauline. “ I just know peo- 
ple will get mixed and think Margaret and I 
are the ones.” 

“ Well, it is too bad,” put in Mrs. Wright, as 
she bustled in. “I am sure I have done my best 
to make all of you girls have a good time and, 
now the war is over, I hoped Elizabeth would be 
49 


50 Mary Louise At Dor field 

contented to make her debut in society. Of 
course, I could put my foot down and say she 
shouldn’t, but I hate to take issue with her — ” 

Yes, and if you do she will simply go off 
and live with that funny little Miss O’Gorman, 
who never had a beau in her life, I could wager 
anything. What does Father sayf ” yawned 
Margaret, who was busily engaged in putting an 
extra polish on her already highly glazed finger 
nails. 

Say about what? ” asked Mr. Wright as he 
entered the room, his arms laden with pamphlets 
with which he was planning to spend a happy 
morning. 

“ Say about Elizabeth’s crazy plan to ppen up 
a foolish shop,” explained Margaret. 

Well, it seems strange to me that one of my 
blood should engage in mercantile pursuits. 
There has never been a member of the family 
that I know of, in trade. WTiat is the nature of 
her undertaking f 

Mr. Wright always used the longest words he 
could think of. The strange thing was he did 
not often seem to have to think of them but had 
them on his tongue’s end. 

As far as we can make out they are going 


The Wright Family 51 

to sell everything from pins to pianos, said 
Gertrude. 

She will have to stop when the warm weather 
sets in, because I have taken the lake cottage for 
two months, July and August, and expect to close 
up the house in town,’’ declared Mrs. Wright 
briskly. 

<< Why don’t you get it a month earlier and 
force Elizabeth to come in June? ” suggested 
Pauline. 

Good idea! I could get it quite cheaply for 
June, they may even let me have it for almost 
nothing, as June is an off month for the lake 
and it is better for property to have a tenant 
than not, especially where one takes such good 
care of a place as I am sure I try to do. I shall 
have to ask you girls to go in the parlor or 
dining room this morning, I am going to have 
this room thoroughly cleaned. The books must 
be dusted and the walls wiped down. The win- 
dows were washed last week, but it would not 
hurt them to be washed again. I may have the 
rug beaten too.” 

Oh, Mother, for pity’s sake, the library is 
clean enough!” complained Annabel. ‘‘Why 
don’t you let us stay put? ” 


52 


Mary Louise At Dor field 

Not at all! I work my fingers to the hone 
trying to make a comfortable home for your 
father and you girls and all I ask of you is to 
move to another room.^^ 

Mr. Wright had settled himself on the sofa 
with his catalogues and was loath to move, but 
move he must, as a sullen colored maid came in 
with broom and rags and ladder and pail. 

I ain’t never wucked fur no lady possessed 
with sech a clean devil befo’,’^ she grumbled as 
she began to dismantle the room. Th’ ain’t 
no wonder th’ ain’t no nap lef on this here 
cyarpet. It done had all the nap breshed oft’n 
it. It’s a wonder the winders don’t come inter 
holes with all the washin’ they gits. Yo’ maw 
don’t let the dus’ git laid befo’ she’s a stirrin’ 
it up again,” she said to the girls as they reluc- 
tantly trailed from the room. 

The abused creatures had hardly settled them- 
selves in the parlor when Mrs. Wright called 
from upstairs: 

‘‘ Girls, come on up here! Miss Pinkie and 
I are ready to try on those shirt waists. All of 
you come, as we are ready for all of you.” 

Miss Pinkie was the sewing woman engaged 
spring and fall for a month at the time to get 


The Wright Family 53 

the family in order. Mrs. Wright sewed with 
her and occasionally one of the daughters con- 
descended to make buttonholes or put a little 
finishing handwork on the garments. Miss Pinkie 
was a good sempstress but undervalued her ac- 
quirements so that she was willing to work for 
very little money. Mrs. Wright with her usual 
efficiency did all the cutting and fitting, although 
Miss Pinkie was quite capable of doing it herself. 

“Heavens! Mother won’t let us sit still a 
‘minute,” complained Pauline. 

‘ ‘ Sometimes I think Elizabeth shows her sense 
to get out of it all,” whispered Margaret to Ger- 
trude, but Gertrude looked so shocked at her 
younger sister that Margaret declared she was 
just fooling. It did not seem very hard lines 
to have to go upstairs and stand to have shirt 
waists fitted on one, but the idle Wright girls 
felt it to be. How much happier they would 
have been if their mother had seen fit to have 
them make their own clothes, but that lady 
thought she was doing everything in her power 
to make her children contented in working for 
them from morning until night. It was much 
easier to sew for them than to teach them how 
to sew. 


54 


Mary Louise At Dor field 

I need more buttons/’ said Mrs. Wrigbt 
briskly as the daughters entered the sewing 
room. Are you going out this morning, any 
of you girls? ” 

We had not planned to go. We aren’t 
dressed for the street,” drawled Gertrude. ‘‘We 
were up late last night at the dance. ’ ’ 

‘ ‘ Well, never mind, then ! I can get them 
myself. I am afraid you would not get the right 
size anyhow,” was the mother’s cheerful accept- 
ance of her daughter’s selfishness. “ It won’t 
take me a minute to get dressed and I can mar- 
ket for to-morrow while I am down towm. I 
think I’ll step in and' see how that foolish Eliza- 
beth is getting on while I am near the building. ’ ’ 
Her curiosity was as strong as her disapproval. 

“ Oh, let’s all of us go! ” exclaimed Pauline. 
And so the four who were too weary to change 
their dresses to go buy buttons went gayly oft 
to prepare themselves to visit their foolish sister 
in what they considered her degrading 
stronghold. 

“I’ll see the agent and engage the cottage at 
the lake for June, while I am down town,” said 
Mrs. Wright as she bustled into her street 
clothes after having fitted the shirt waists and 


55 


The Wright Family 

given Miss Pinkie minute directions as to how 
to sew them up. 

Mrs, Wright and her daughters made a hand- 
some group as together they walked down the 
street. The mother had been a very pretty girl 
and still was a good looking woman, although 
she had no time to give to her own appearance. 
She spent all the money and time that could be 
spared on beautifying her daughters. Her object 
in life was to marry them well and it was said 
by the knowing ones of Dorfield that she kept 
a list of the eligible young men of the town and 
carefully cultivated them in degree according to 
their eligibility. 

‘‘ Who was that young man who bowed to you 
just now? she asked Pauline sharply. I 
never saw liim before.’’ 

He’s a friend of Danny Dexter’s. I met him 
last night at the dance. He’s on a newspaper, I 
believe. ’ ’ 

What newspaper, ” 

The Eecorder. He dances divinely.” 

‘‘ You did not tell me his name.” 

‘‘ I don’t know it.” 

<< Weren’t you introduced! ” she asked, 
shocked. 


56 


Mary Louise At Dor field 

Oh, yes, but I didn’t catch his name. It^was 
kind of Frenchified in sound.” 

Well you had better find out. He looks quite 
nice. We might ask him to call and then have 
him down to the lake for a week end. We must 
not go to the lake before Mary Louise Burrows’s 
wedding. I would not have you girls miss it.” 

I don’t believe for an instant she intends to 
ask any of us but Elizabeth, who has to be asked 
as she is bridesmaid,” said Gertrude. 

Not ask you! Absurd! You can just leave 
that to me. Of course, I know she is supposed to 
have only her intimate friends and all that, but 
Danny Dexter know*s every man in Dorfield and 
they are sure to be there.” Quite cheerfully the 
Wright girls were willing to leave it to her, for 
they felt sure it would come out all right with 
such a major general maneuvering for them. 

The buttons were bought; the next day’s mar- 
keting done; the real estate agent interviewed 
and the cottage at the lake engaged for June at 
a bargain ; and then the cavalcade started for the 
old building where Josie and Elizabeth had 
rented a room which they were rapidly convert- 
ing into a Higgledy-Piggledy Shop. 

It all seems so vulgar,” commented Pauline, 


The Wright Family 57 

as with raised skirts she tripped up the far from 
clean stairs. 

‘‘Not even an elevator,’’ from Gertrude. 

“I’d like to come down here and scrub this 
place! ’’ exclaimed Mrs. Wright. 

“ Well, for Heaven’s sake don’t! ” cried Anna- 
bel. “It is bad enough to have one’s sister 
keeping a shop without having one’s mother 
scrubbing one. ’ ’ 

They all of them laughed at Annabel’s rueful 
countenance and, without knocking, opened the 
door and walked into the Higgledy-Piggledy 
Shop. 


CHAPTER VI 


THE HIGGLEDY-PIGGLEDY SHOP 

It was well named ! If higgledy-piggledy meant 
topsy-turvy I am sure there was no place on 
the globe so suited to that name. Our young 
would-be shopkeepers were busily engaged try- 
ing to get order out of chaos when the Wright 
family came bursting in on them. 

Heavens, what a mess! cried Gertrude. 

Yes, but we are hot ready for callers,’’ said 
Elizabeth rudely. It was a great irritation to 
her that her family should have turned up at 
that particular moment. Why couldn’t they let 
her alone! After everything should be in order, 
she hoped they would come to see how clever 
their arrangements were, but just now it was 
too much to have them come poking in her place 
of business. 

We are very glad to have callers at any 
time,” declared Josie, who had been literally 
standing on her head in a packing box from 
which she had been unearthing the last of the 
58 




59 


The Higgledy-Piggledy Shop 

encyclopedias. The astute Josie had no idea of 
going into business with the ill will of anyone it 
was possible to avoid. She well understood how 
the Wrights looked upon this seemingly mad 
venture of Elizabeth's and she was anxir as to 
do all she could to make things easier for her 
youthful partner. 

^ ‘ Our things have just come and we are trying 
to get them placed. WouldnT you like me to 
show you how nicely we are to be fixed up? 
she asked Mrs. Wright, in whose energetic coun- 
tenance she saw some hope of interest. 

‘ ^ -Why, yes, I should, answered that lady, 
looking at Josie earnestly. She rather liked 
what she saw in Josie 0 ’Gorman ^s countenance 
and certainly she could not help being interested 
in the girls’ plans. 

They had rented a long narrow room that 
covered the entire second floor of the shabby old 
building which was squeezed in between two 
sky-scrapers so tightly that it seemed to be 
gasping for breath. It had been spared destruc- 
tion and improvement because of some hitch in 
the title and nobody had been willing to put 
money in a piece of property with an unfor- 
tunate name for getting its owner into trouble. 


60 Mary Louise At Dorfield 

Tlie consequence was that tenants were difficult 
to obtain and impossible to bold. Even real 
estate agents did not like to handle it. It was 
now in the hands of Mr. Markle and it was from 
him that Josie and Elizabeth had rented it. On 
the ground floor was a cleaning and dyeing 
establishment and the third floor was cut up into 
several rooms in which various small industries 
were carried on. 

It isn^t exactly what we wanted, but it was 
cheap and we can make it attractive, I believe,’^ 
Josie explained. Thank goodness it has a fire 
place, not that that makes much difference right 
now but when next winter comes we will be glad 
of its cheeriness. We are planning to branch 
out in so many directions and this huge room 
will give us plenty of space in which to expand. 
In front we are to have our reception room and 
shop where we will display our wares. In the 
back I am to live and have kitchen, bedroom and 
bath. The middle part is to be our store room. ’ ’ 

Are you to draw chalk marks to show which 
is which? asked Mr. Wright, who was becom- 
ing more and more interested in her eager little 
hostess. 

‘‘ I am to have partitions made in the back. 


61 


The Higgledy-Piggledy Shop 

not to go all the way to the ceiling hut just high 
enough to give me some privacy, and we are to 
>have a huge portiere to divide the front shop 
from the store room and a smaller one cutting off 
our information bureau. The carpenters are 
going to work to-day on our partitions* and the 
plumbers also are to install our bath tub, kitchen 
sink, gas stove, etc. My furniture is here and I 
intend to set up housekeeping immediately.’^ 

‘‘Not in all this confusion? ” 

“ But all this confusion will be worse con- 
founded in a few hours. Mary Louise is coming 
in a few minutes and is bringing her own houses 
maid to help clean up and Danny Dexter is com- 
ing later in the afternoon with some of his 
friends to help.” 

Mrs. Wright began to feel sorry that she had 
not put off their visit until afternoon. Her rul- 
ing passion of having her daughters receive at- 
tention from young men was uppermost. She 
had not thought of this absurd shop as a place 
where desirable young men might come. At any 
rate, she intended to wait until Mary Louise 
should arrive and set the matter at rest in regard 
to all of her daughters being invited to the wed- 
ding. 


62 Mary Louise At Dorfield 

While Mrs. Wright’s ruling passion was the 
desire to have her daughters popular and mar- 
ried, another passion was almost as strong in 
her bosom and that was, cleaning up. What a 
field here presented itself! She was sure she 
could take hold of the disorder and get things 
cleaned and into place much better than could 
Mary Louise ^s maid. This Josie O’Gorman 
might be able to scrub and clean, but she was 
pretty sure her daughter Elizabeth could not ; at 
least she had never seen her do more than dust, 
the parlor at home. 

Here, child, give me that hammer ! You 
don’t know how to open a box,” she said to 
Elizabeth, who was dramng nails from the top 
of a huge box of books. 

But I can,” insisted Elizabeth; at least I 
can learn.” 

‘ ‘ Pooh ! Just let me do it. ’ ’ She grasped the 
hammer, but Elizabeth refused to release her 
hold. 

‘‘ I am going to open the box,” she announced 
firmly and proceeded to carry out the statement 
in spite of her mother’s protests. 

Amazement was depicted on the countenance 
of Mrs. Wright. Mary Louise arrived just then, 


The Higgledy-Piggledy Shop 63 

followed by a maid carrying a great basket of 
provisions. 

Luncheon! said Mary Louise. The car- 
penters and plumbers are to have lunch with us.’’ 

‘ ‘ What fun ! ’ ’ exclaimed J osie and Elizabeth. 

I am sorry I can’t ask all of you to join us,” 
said Mary Louise, graciously taking in Mrs. 
Wright and the four daughters in her polite 
smile, but I did not count noses, or rather 
mouths, for so many, and carpenters and plumb- 
ers do eat so much.” 

I think Elizabeth had better come on home 
with me,” said her mother a little stiffly. She 
did not want to do anything to anger Mary 
Louise, but she did think she was coming it a 
little strong to be asking one of her daughters to 
sit down and eat with the carpenters and plumb- 
ers. No doubt they were very worthy persons 
but hardly fit associates for such aristocrats as 
the Wrights. 

Indeed I am not coming home,” spoke up 
Elizabeth quickly. I have a great deal to do 
this afternoon and you people at home might as 
well get used to the idea that I am going to be 
away from home every day and all day.” 

By the way, my dear,” said her mother 


64 Mary Lomse At Dor field 

suavely, I have rented the lake ooitag'e for 
June, July and August, so you shall have to 
forego the pleasures of shop keeping for those 
months at least, as we are to shut the town 
house. ’ ^ 

Oh, I’ll just stay with Josie then,” said 
Elizabeth. ‘‘ I have no idea of giving up my 
business every summer.” 

Mrs. Wright looked shocked. This was a new 
thing for a member of her family not to be ac- 
cepting the arrangements she made for them. 
She would have to take this refractory Eliza- 
beth in hand. In the meantime, she decided not 
to let her daughter remain to lunch with car- 
penters and plumbers unchaperoned. Besides, 
she did so want to get her finger in the pie of 
straightening up the debris incident to unpack- 
ing. She was sure Mary Louise’s maid knew 
nothing at all about how to go to work to get 
the place cleaned up. 

“ Gertrude, you and Annabel and Margaret 
and Pauline can go on home. I am going to 
stay and help these girls get this place in order. 
I can get it done in no time and then I’ll bring 
Elizabeth home with me.” 

She began by taking off her hat and jacket and 


65 


The Higgledy-Piggledy Shop 

tying around her ample waist an old curtain that 
had been used in packing some of Josie^s 
treasures. 

Elizabeth was aghast for a moment. It looked 
as though her mother could not even let her run 
the little shop without her assistance. Where 
would be her highly prized independence if Mrs. 
Wright was to superintend everything and even 
do the cleaning! Why couldn’t she let her 
alone! She looked appealingly at her sisters, 
who were reluctantly taking their departure. 
She caught Margaret’s eye. Margaret was the 
sister who was a little like Elizabeth in that she 
occasionally rebelled, at least in spirit, against 
the state of inertia in which the very managing 
mother held her entire family. Margaret was 
quick of tongue too and not in the least in awe 
of her efficient parent. 

Now, Mother! ” she cried, coming to Eliza- 
beth’s assistance. I should think you could see 
with half an eye that you are not in the least 
needed here. For pity’s sake, let Elizabeth have 
half a chance and stop butting in.” 

What do you mean! ” asked Mrs. Wright 
severely. 

‘‘ I mean the girls were getting on perfectly 


66 Mary Louise At Bor field 

well here without your assistance and you have 
a sempstress at home and the library was in a 
sad state when we left and company is coming 
to supper — and — ’ ’ 

‘‘Heavens! I forgot all about that! But this 
seems more important. I — ’ ^ 

“ Oh, come along, Mother! ” insisted Margaret. 

Mary Louise and Josie had retired to the back 
of the long room. They were intensely sorry for 
Elizabeth, but felt that it was something they 
could not very well interfere with. If her mother 
chose to come down to the shop to make a 
nuisance of herself, it could not be helped. After 
all she was Elizabeth’s mother and must be 
treated with, respect. It was with a feeling of 
intense relief that they saw her untie the old 
curtain and don her hat and coat. 

“ I cannot stay to-day,” she said as the two 
girls came towards her. “ I am extremely sorry, 
as I am sure I could have straightened you out 
in short order. You will never manage to get 
all of this trash cleared away, I am sure, unless 
you. Miss O’Gorman, are much more capable 
than Elizabeth.” 

“ I am not a bit more, but I am sure we can 
do it,” declared Josie with a twinkle in her eye. 


67 


The Higgledy-Piggledy Shop 

‘‘I am miicli interested in your wedding/’ 
went on Mrs. Wright, riveting her attention on 
Mary Louise. ‘‘ In fact I am going to put off 
our going to the lake for a few days so that we 
will be able to attend. I am deeply disappointed 
not to be making Elizabeth’s bridesmaid’s dress 
myself, but since it was decided Mrs. Barlow was 
to make them all, of course, I had to give way 
to her. At least, I can have the satisfaction of 
making dresses for my other girls.” 

Oh — yes — of course ! ” Mary Louise man- 
aged to say. I’ll be so glad to have you stay 
over. ’ ’ 

With a triumphant swoop Mrs. ^Wright gath- 
ered together her four daughters and ushered 
them out of the shop and down the dusty stairs. 
She was so delighted that her superior manage- 
ment had drawn from Mary Louise an invitation 
for her entire family to the highly desirable wed- 
ding reception that she forgot all about making a 
point about taking Elizabeth home for luncheon. 

I hate to leave her,” she said, after Pauline 
reminded her of her remissness, but one can’t 
manage everything at once.” 

No? ” questioned Margaret with a rising 
inflection that might have been taken for imper- 


68 Mary Louise At Dor field 

tinence by her mother had she not been taken up 
with gazing at an automobile full of young men 
stopping in front of the ramshackle building 
where the Higgledy-Piggledy Shop was coming 
into being. 

How do you do, Mr. Dexter? she said 
graciously, as the young man who was driving 
the car raised his hat. 

I believe my soul they are going up to the 
shop,’^ she said with some irritation to her 
daughters. And what are those things they 
are carrying? Why, it is plumbing! There is 
a bath tub and pipes right in the car with them. 
And look! The car behind them, also full of 
young men, is bringing a gas stove. 

And there is Billy McGraw driving a lum- 
ber wagon! exclaimed Gertrude. 

Billy McGraw was known as the richest young 
man in Dorfield, the richest and the best dressed, 
and to see him in khaki trousers, evidently left 
over from his recent army experience, and olive 
drab sweater on top of a load of lumber was too 
much for the curiosity of the Wrights. 

What can it mean? wondered Annabel. 

It means that those are the carpenters and 
plumbers who are to lunch at the shop,’ ^ laughed 


69 


The Higgledy-Piggledy Shop 

Margaret. ‘‘Now aren^t you glad you didn’t 
drag Elizabeth away by the hairs of her head? ” 

“ Well, well! ” was all Mrs. Wright could 
answer, but when she got her breath after the 
surprise of finding out who the carpenters and 
plumbers were, she began with her usual ease 
to congratulate herself on her superior manage- 
ment. 

“ Sometimes we are wise just to leave things 
in the hands of Providence, ’ ’ she said. 

“ Yes, but I am afraid Provy would never 
have wormed out of Mary Louise an invitation 
,to her wedding for the entire Wright family,” 
said Margaret, pertly. “ Some things we must 
attend to ourselves.” 


CHAPTER VII 


THE CAPTAIN OF HER SOUL. 

What a gay luncheon was that given in honor 
of the carpenters and plumbers ! The huge ham- 
per produced such a variety of goodies and the 
quantity was quite up to the quality, so that 
Josie, while she was thankful that Mary Louise 
had not invited the Wrights to remain, never- 
theless wondered at her statement that there was 
not food enough for the extra mouths. There 
seemed to be food enough for a whole regiment, 
but when she saw how Danny and his friends 
attacked the provisions, she realized that Mary 
Louise had not been guilty of the polite fabrica- 
tion which she feared. 

Empty packing boxes were turned over and 
covered with white crepe tablecloths and the 
table set with paper plates and drinking cups and 
Japanese napkins. Piles of sandwiches^ dishes 
of salad and cold meats, pickles and olives were 
placed thereon and the center decoration con- 
sisted of a great Lady Baltimore cake. 

70 


71 


The Captain of Her Soul 

It’s the birthday cake for the Higgledy- 
Piggledy,” explained Mary Louise, sticking in 
the center a pink candle. 

‘‘ But it’s not a year old yet,” objected Billy 
McGraw. It’s just bom, I should say.” 

But this is a Japanese spread, you see,” 
laughed Mary Louise, “ with Japanese napkins 
and tablecloths, Japanese crab salad, and so 
forth, and you know the Japs count their kids’ 
birthdays from the time they are bom and a 
new bom Japanese baby is one year old.” 

‘‘I sit corrected,” said Billy. When do we 
eat! ” 

“ Isn^t he the limit! ” asked James Drake, 
another one of Danny’s chums who had fought 
with him in the Dorfield regiment. ‘‘ I have 
never seen the likes of Billy for feeding his 
face.” 

Some faces are meant to be fed,” suggested 
Bob Dulaney, the young newspaper man who 
had made such an impression on Margaret 
• Wright the evening before at the dance. Billy’s 
face is that kind of face, one crying out to be 
fed. I was sure relieved when the armistice was 
signed before Billy got a chance to catch a bomb 
in that mouth of his.” 


72 Mary Louise At Dor field 

Billy grinned delightedly at this sally. His 
month was large, hnt it was saved from ugliness 
by thirty- two perfect teeth. 

What’s the use of my coming safe out of 
the trenches if you shoot oft your gab and hit me 
in my fatal spot, you old ink pot? ” 

Bob Dulaney was, like Danny Dexter, not a 
native of Dorfield, but he had fought with that 
regiment during the war and after peace was 
declared had drifted to the spot where so many 
of his friends lived and, having obtained a posi- 
tion on the Recorder, had decided to settle in 
the pleasant old town. He was a delightful 
young man, full of wit and humor and quite as 
popular with the regiment as Danny himself. 
He had joined Danny in his undertaking of doing 
the carpentering and plumbing for the girls, 
although he was well known to have absolutely 
no mechanical skill. 

The only nail Bob ever hits on the head is 
a verbal one,” Danny explained, but he hits 
them all right. He has come along to help lift 
and carry, not that he is much on that, unless it 
^s an argument whicS is to be carried on.”’ 

‘‘He is some lifter too,” suggested Tim Tur- 
ner, one of the other young men. 


73 


The Captain of Her Soul 

Right you are! laughed James Drake. 

Remember the old cock he lifted off the roost 
that night on the outskirts of Nancy? 

Remember it! I’ll never forget it, and how 
he went back for the ding dong,^’ said Tim. 

What’s a ding dong? ” asked Josie, inno- 
cently. 

That’s Tim’s French for turkey,” cried 
Billy. ‘‘ He means dindon.” 

Oh,^’ blushed Josie, excuse me! ” 

Not at all,” said Tim^ blushing in his turn. 

You mean you won’t excuse her? ” teased 
Billy. 

I mean — I mean — Oh you dry up! ” 

But when are we to eat? ” persisted Billy. 

Laura Hilton and Lucile Neal were coming 
in to help us,” said Mary Louise. ‘‘ They will 
be along in a minute. It is really not quite time. 
I’m sorry you are so hungry.” 

Sorry! I’m glad, terribly glad — in fact, 
I’m thanking God for the room that is in me,” 
declared Bob Dulaney. But let’s wait for the 
young ladies if it takes all day.” 

I do wish Irene could have come,” sighed 
Mary Louise. I hated to drive off without 
her. She looked so sweet and patient sitting 


74 Mary Louise At Dor field 

there in her chair and waving to me as cheer- 
fully as though she expected to be one of the 
party. I left her in our garden where she loves 
to wheel her chair. 

Who is Irene! asked Bob Dulaney. 

Oh, Irene MacFarlane is my very best 
friend, explained Mary Louise. She is lame 
and has to spend all her waking hours in a 
wheel chair. She gets around remarkably well, 
but can’t go anyv^here unless there is an ele- 
vator, as stairs are too much for her. I do wish 
Josie and Elizabeth could have found a place on 
the ground floor, just for Irene’s sake.” 

I wish we could have,” said Josie, “ espe- 
cially as Irene is almost a member of our firm. 
She is to take charge of our needlework depart- 
ment, but we shall have to carry everything to 
her. ’ ’ 

If you only had an elevator,” sighed Mary 
Louise wistfully, the picture of her poor friend 
still in her mind, sitting so patiently in her chair, 
her fair smooth brow expressing peace and con- 
tentment when she must have felt some chagrin 
at Fate that she could not join the merry crowd 
at the Higgledy-Piggledy Shop. 

<< I forgot something important! ” exclaimed 


The Captain of Her Soul 75 

Danny suddenly. Can you put off luncheon 
just about ten minutes? ’’ 

Why, of course, if you must go,’’ said Mary 
Louise. Laura and Lucile will be here in two 
minutes,” consulting her tiny wrist watch. 

Lucile inherits too much efficiency from her 
father ever to be a minute late.” 

Just a minute, sweetheart,” Danny whis- 
pered. I ’ll be back before you know I ’m gone. ’ ’ 

I doubt that,” smiled Mary Louise with a 
meaning understood by the happy Danny. 

Come on. Bob! You are the person who has 
to help lift. You come with me, please.” 

More bath tubs or another gas stove? ” 
asked Bob as he raced down the steps after 
Danny. The two young men jumped into the 
car and were off and around the comer on two 
wheels before an excited cop had time to read 
their fast disappearing number. 

My Mary Louise wants something and I’m 
going to get it for her.” 

‘‘ I heard her say she wanted an elevator. Is 
that what you are going to get? ” 

‘ ‘ Yes ! When I can manage it, but that shall 
have to wait awhile until I can make my plans. 
Now I’m going to get Irene and you and I are 


76 Mary Louise At Dorfield - 

going to carry tier upstairs. She doesn’t weigli 
mnch. ’ ’ 

‘ ‘ Fine ! I reckon we could manage lier between 
us even though she weighed five hundred. How 
did you happen to think of itf ” 

‘‘ Well, you see I feel so terribly unworthy of 
Mary Louise that I made up my mind that the 
only way I could make up in the least little teensy 
weensy bit to her for what she is and what she 
has done and is going to do for me in marrying 
me is never to let her express a single desire 
without trying to gratify it.” 

‘‘ Mighty noble of you, old fellow, but mightn’t 
you spoil her if you persist in such a policy? ” 

‘‘ Spoil my Mary Louise! Why, man, she is 
pure gold. You could not spoil her if you tried. 
It would have been done long ago by her grand- 
father and her friends if it could have been 
done. She never wants anything for herself. It 
is always for others.” 

‘‘ Well, I am glad to be doing something for 
Miss Burrows, but I am pretty glad if we can 
help give the poor lame girl a lift too.” 

When Irene saw Mary Louise drive off in her 
car with Bilsy, the housemaid, sitting on the 
back seat holding the huge hamper of lunch on 


The Captain of Her Soul 77 

her knees, it had taken all of her self-control not 
to show how, for the moment, the realization of 
her lameness, her handicap, was almost more 
than she could hear. She was able to keep an 
unruffled brow and to smile bravely, waving her 
handkerchief until the car was out of sight. 
Then she bowed her head and, in spite of her 
determination not to give way, she wept a few 
bitter tears. 

She said to herself: 

Irene MacFarlane, I am ashamed of you. 
The idea of your being such a baby. I know you 
are missing lots of fun, about the best kind of 
fun. I know you do miss a lot of things, but 
stop whining and think of all the wonderful 
things that do come to you. Think of the joy of 
having such a friend as Mary Louise. Think of 
the good health you have in spite of your lame- 
ness. Think of all the books you can read. 
Think of the pupils you get in music. Think of 
the new Victrola Mary Louise’s Grandpa Jim 
gave you. Think of all the wonderful records 
you own and all you are to own in future. Think 
of the mockingbird singing now in the hedge. 
Think of Uncle Peter and Aunt Hannah and how 
they love you. Powder your nose this minute 


78 Mary Lowise At Dor field 

so they won’t know you have been making a 
baby of yourself! ” 

She produced from her work bag a tiny vanity 
case and carefully powdered her exceedingly well 
formed nose, looking critically at herself the 
while. 

You are not a bad looking person, Irene Mac- 
Farlane, but if you turn crybaby you’ll be 
hideous. Hold up your head and behave your- 
self if you have a spark of sense.” She laughed 
and held up her head and then in a low tone 
recited Henley’s Invictus. 

It matters not how strait the gate. 

How charged with punishment the scroll, 

I am the master of my fate: 

I am the captain of my soul.” 

She had begun in a whisper, but as the poem 
clutched her heart strings, as that particular 
poem always did, she spoke aloud. Her voice 
was singularly clear and musical. She had not 
noticed a car stopping at the entrance to Colonel 
Hathaway’s nor did she realize that two young 
men were walking towards her across the close 
cut grass. 

Danny and Bob took off their hats and stood 
with heads bowed while the girl finished her 


The Captain of Her Soul 79 

impassioned recitation of that gallant hearted 
poem. 

I felt kind of like I was in church/^ Danny 
said to Mary Louise afterwards when telling her 
of the occurrence. 

‘ ^ And so you were, ’ ^ she had replied. * ‘ Some- 
how the Divine which is within all of us is more 
apparent to the naked eye in Irene than in any 
one else I know. And where God is, there is his 
Church. ’ ’ 

When Irene looked around and saw the two 
young men, she was devoutly glad she had pow- 
dered her nose. Irene did have much of the 
Divine within her but she also had enough of 
the feminine to wish to appear at her best when 
good looking young men suddenly came upon 
her. 

Oh! ’’ she exclaimed. ‘‘ How do you do, 
Danny? ’’ 

I do 'finely except that I am starving and I 
can’t eat until you consent to come eat with us. 
This ,is my friend Mr. Dulaney, Bob for short. 
And, Bob, this is our best friend. Miss MacFar- 
lane, Irene for all times.” 

How do you do. Bob for Short? ” 

And how do you do, Irene for all Time? ” 


80 Mary Louise At Dor field 

He took the lame girPs hand in his and 
looked earnestly in her eyes. The skillful use 
of the vanity case did not deceive him. He saw 
in her eyes that she had been suffering, and that 
not many minutes before. Powdering her nose 
had not thrown dust in his eyes if it did fool 
Danny. He saw and understood. The calm peace 
of her brow he felt was but a camouflage worked 
by an indomitable will to conceal the anguish of 
soul the poor girl must often have suffered. His 
gaze was so kind that Irene felt she had made 
a new friend. 

Will you go? asked Danny. “ Lunch in 
the shop awaits us.^’ 

But I can’t get up stairs,” faltered Irene. 
‘ ^ You see, there is no elevator. ’ ’ 

Yes there is — a human elevator like this,” 
and grasping wrists the young men formed what 
children call a basket and stooped invitingly in 
front of Irene’s chair. Mary Louise is sad 
without you and you know we can’t let Mary 
Louise be sad.” 

So are we all, at least so am I, now that I 
have seen Irene for all Time. Put on your hat 
and come on, please do,” Bob entreated. 

But I am too heavy.” 


81 


The Captain of Her Soul 

‘ ^ Heavy ! Why we have carried in a porcelain 
bath tub and a gas range. I am no good except 
to carry on/^ insisted Bob. “ Must I tell any- 
one you are gone? ’’ 

No, I live right next door, but Aunt Hannah 
is out and she will know I am with Mary Louise 
if I^m not at home.’^ 

Here is your hat, so tie it on,’’ he said, tak- 
ing a pretty garden hat from the back of Irene’s 
chair. “ What a nice hat! I certainly do like 
hats that have some raison d’etre. Now this hat 
really shades and still one can see under it,” he 
laughed, peeping under the brim and, without 
any by your leave, he stooped and picked Irene 
up in his strong arms and started for the car. 

We don’t need a basket just now, I can 
tackle this burden alone. Danny, you can climb 
in and get up steam.” Tenderly he deposited 
Irene on the back seat and got in beside her and 
■away they speeded for the postponed luncheon. 

I think it is great for you to pick up and 
come without even having to fluff up your hair 
or change your dress,” Bob said, looking admir- 
ingly at the neat little lawn frock worn by his 
companion. 

The first thing one noted about Irene MacFar- 


82 


Mary Louise At Dorfield 

lane was lier exquisite neatness and freskness. 
Her hair was soft and abundant and the glossy 
coils gave evidence of much brushing. Her com- 
plexion was clear and, while not rosy, still there 
was a soft glow of health in the oval of her 
cheeks. No longer was the lame girl delicate 
but, under the watchful care of Aunt Hannah and 
Mary Louise, she had thrown off the fragility of 
her early girlhood and now could boast of almost 
perfect health. Of course, her form of exercise 
was restricted, but what gymnastics she could 
do she did religiously. The consequence was in 
those slender arms and well formed shoulders 
there was a great deal of strength and under the 
artistic tapering of her fingers there was con- 
cealed a grip of steel. The lines of, her figure 
were good. Nature had meant her for a perfect 
woman, nobly planned,’^ but the disease which 
had attacked her in infancy had withered and 
enfeebled the lower limbs. 

Irene ’'s clothes were of extreme simplicity but 
her skill mth a needle was manifest in the well 
fitting frocks which she pressed herself with the 
help of a lap-board and an electric iron. There 
was never a wrinkle in Irene MacFarlane’s 
dress, but nobody ever saw her fussing over her 


The Captain of Her Soul '83 

clothes. When she arose in the morning, she 
dressed for the day. Mary Louise used to say 
her friend reminded her always of a narcissus 
flower, not the hot-house kind hut the ones that 
came up year after year in Grandpa Jim^s old- 
fashioned flower beds. 


CHAPTEE VIII 


THE ORCHID BROOCH 

<< Why don’t we begin on the eatsf de- 
manded Billy McGraw. I am starving in the 
sight of plenty.” 

He is always that way,” said Tim Turner. 

Ever since the time in the trenches there has 
been no satisfying Billy. Bet anything the 
trenches will be filled up and leveled over before 
Billy is filled up.” 

Well, I hope they will be leveled over before 
I am,” laughed Billy, good-naturedly. ‘‘It’s so 
Miss Wright, I can even eat beans and stew, 
two things at which most of the returned soldiers 
balk. Still no one answers me — why do we 
wait? ” 

‘‘ We are waiting for Danny,” blushed Mary 
Louise. “ He had to leave for a few moments.” 

“ Tut, tut! Don’t begin by spoiling him.” 

“ But you couldn’t spoil Danny,” insisted his 
loyal little fiancee. “ I don’t know what he went 

84 


The Orchid Brooch 85 

out for, but I am sure he had some unselfish 
reason. ’ ’ 

You can’t spoil me either,” pleaded Billy. 

Any more than you can gild the lily or paint 
the rose. You are already in a state of decom- 
position,” put in Tim. 

Somebody take pity on me and feed me! 
Danny may be gone a year or so. He often goes 
away and doesn’t return. Even now he may be 
eating at a restaurant — ’ ’ 

Here, here’s a sandwich! ” said Elizabeth 
Wright. Here are two sandwiches and a 
chicken leg.” 

Gee! You are a nice girl,” cried Billy. 

About the nicest girl I know. You’ll be even 
nicer if you sit over here by me while I get on 
the outside of this ambrosia.” 

He looked at Elizabeth Wright with a feeling 
of real interest. Up to that moment he had only 
regarded her as one of the Wright sisters with 
the managing mother of whom he lived in holy 
terror. Being an exceedingly well off young 
man, he was on Mrs. Wright’s list with triple 
stars as one of the most eligible possibilities in 
Dorfield. He had felt that the Wright girls were 
quite as eager for his attentions as their mother, 


86 Mary Louise At Dor field 

but tbis Elizabeth seemed to be different from 
the rest somehow. She did not seem to care 
whether he paid her attention or not. To be 
sure, she fed him, but it was with the compas- 
sion she might have shown a hungry dog, and 
when he asked her to sit down by him on the 
window seat while he ate the purloined sand- 
wiches and chicken leg, she declined, saying she 
must help Josie unpack and had no time to 
Watch the animals feed. 

Cruel! ’’ he murmured through a muffling 
tomato sandwich. He could not help smiling to 
think how Mrs. Wright would have been shocked 
at a daughter of hers refusing even such a sim- 
ple invitation as watching a desirable parti eat. 

Billy McGraw had been in a fair way to be- 
come spoiled with all the money he could spend. 
He was an only child, with a doting mother of his 
own and all the managing mammas in Horfield 
reaching out after him for their daughters. But 
the war had come just in time to save him not 
only from the managing mammas but from him- 
self and the inevitable spoiling that wealth and 
self-indulgence was sure to bring him. He had 
enlisted as a private at the first call of his country 
and the training he had received in the ranks 


Th& Orchid Brooch 


87 


was to prove of life-long benefit to him. His was 
a lovable nature and it was hardly his fault that 
he had been born with a silver spoon in his mouth, 
but it was much to his credit that when the test 
came he was able to dispense with that same 
silver spoon and could manage to stomach the 
army beans often without even the formality of 
a fork. Now that the war was over he had re- 
turned to Dorfield with more purpose in his life. 
He had realized it was up to him to work in spite 
of his wealth and, having some mechanical skill, 
he had applied to the Neal Automobile Factory for 
a job with the determination of learning the busi- 
ness from the beginning. The consequence was 
he was enjojdng his short Saturday as much as 
any workman in Dorfield. Lunch with a bunch 
of interesting girls would fully repay him for the 
job of carpentering and plumbing that Danny 
Dexter had mapped out for him for the afternoon. 

‘‘ Here they are! ’’ he shouted, peering down 
from the window, and in a moment Danny and 
Bob arrived with Irene borne between them in 
their improvised basket. 

Oh, Danny! You darling! ” cried Mary 
Louise, rushing forward and embracing Irene, 
who sat smiling like a queen on her throne. 


88 


Mary Louise At Dor field 

‘ ‘ Here, sit here, Irene, in the seat of honor at the 
head of the packing box.” 

Wasn’t it lovely of them to come for me? ” 

‘‘No lovelier than for you to come with us,” 
said Bob Dulaney in an undertone. 

Laura and Lucile had arrived exactly on time 
and immediately the feast began. There was so 
much hilarity that the cleaning and dyeing estab- 
lishment below began to wonder what manner of 
industry was to be conducted above them and 
some of the roomers on the third floor crept down 
and peeped in the door to see what all the fun 
was about. 

In the midst of the luncheon, Mrs. Markle came 
tripping up the steps. 

“ Oh, please excuse me, I had no idea of in- 
terrupting a party,” she said. “ I merely wanted 
to see Mary Louise for a moment and went by 
her home and was sent here by her darling old 
colored butler.” 

“ Oh, but you are not interrupting, Hortense,” 
declared Mary Louise, drawing her new friend 
into the room and introducing her to Josie and 
some of the young men with whom she was not 
acquainted. She knew most of the persons seated 
around the packing boxes. 


The Orchid Brooch 89 

You must sit down and have some lunch/ ^ 
said Josie hospitably. She looked keenly at the 
new arrival and evidently what she saw pleased 
her, as she smiled engagingly, making room for 
Hortense at her own right hand. 

Indeed it would have been a critical person 
who would not have conceded that Hortense Mar- 
kle was a delightful picture on that pleasant 
Saturday in May. Her gown was, as usual, ex- 
quisite. It was mauve and of soft material that 
clung to her shapely form. Her hat, a small 
toque, was formed of orchids and her one orna- 
ment was a brooch of wonderful workmanship. 
It was an orchid of rare beauty made of gold and 
enamel with a large diamond shining like a dew 
drop from its centre. 

She took her seat, remarking as she did so that, 
since she had run in on them, she felt sure she 
would make less disturbance by sitting down than 
by making all the male guests stand while she 
transacted her business with Mary Louise. 

She is a lady of discrimination,’^ declared 
Billy McGraw to Elizabeth, by whom he had 
found a seat. I know you think I am insatiable, 
but please take another sandwich and make out 
it is for yourself and then slip it to me. It is 


90 Mary Louise At Dorfield 

working in the factory that makes me so hungry. 
Sometimes I get empty enough to chew a rubber 
tire/^ 

What a pretty woman! said Bob Dulaney 
to Irene, by whose side he had found a seat and 
to whom he had been talking steadily during the 
gay luncheon. 

Yes, she is lovely, said Irene, hoping de- 
voutly her tone of voice was not divulging the 
feeling of something akin to hate that she could 
not help nursing for the dainty little newcomer, 
but, try her best, she could not put into her answer 
the enthusiasm that she wished to. Bob looked 
at his companion keenly. 

‘ ‘ What ’s up I ’ ’ he asked himself. ^ ^ WTiatever 
it is, I’U bet Irene for all Time is in the right. 
She doesn’t like the pretty lady and I wonder 
why.” But he said nothing to let Irene know he 
had fathomed her feelings in the matter. 

‘‘ Excuse me,” said Billy McGraw, whose eyes 
showed plainly the admiration he felt for Mrs. 
Markle, but do you know I think that’s the 
most beautiful breast-pin I ever saw except one 
I saw like it once.” 

Oh, I didn’t know there was one like it in the 
world,” said Mrs. Markle. I declare these 


91 


The Orchid Brooch 

artists are an unreliable lot. My husband had 
this made for me by an old goldsmith in Munich. 
It was after his own design. Poor Mr. Markle 
worked on it for days and days and took such 
delight in the fact that it was to be the only thing 
of its kind in the whole world. Now that wretched 
old goldsmith has no doubt duplicated it.’^ 

The one I speak of was made at Tiffany’s. 
Of course, it too was supposed to be unique. 
JeraM Thomas had it made for his wife. I fancy 
old Jerry didn’t do the designing, though, for he 
is more of an adept on Wall Street reading the 
ticker than he is drawing orchids. I should like 
to see it closely if you wouldn’t mind,” he 
pleaded. I have a perfect passion for finely 
wrought gold and enamel.” 

Oh, I’m so sorry,” answered Mrs. Markle, 
blushing a bit, which made her even lovelier 
than before, ‘‘ but this brooch is a kind of key- 
stone to my costume. You girls will understand, I 
know,” and she looked appealingly at the females. 

Of course, mere man doesn’t know how a woman 
puts on her frock and then pins it at exactly the 
right place. I know it doesn’t show, all this care 
we take, but I am sure, if we didn’t take the care 
and if we put our brooches in the wrong place and 


92 Mary Louise At Dor field 

at the wrong angle and had onr gowns too tightly 
drawn np in front or too much open, then you 
would note the difference. I must confess that, 
when I dress, I go to work with a certain rever- 
ence, the kind of reverence a painter feels for his 
palette and canvas.’’ 

Well, far be it from me to ruin the picture,” 
laughed Billy. ‘‘ And let me do reverence to the 
artist,” bowing low. ‘‘ It was stupid of me to 
look at such perfection and to ‘ consider the lilies ’ 
just as though somebody had not been toiling and 
spinning to bring forth so much beauty.” 

I know you think I am foolish,” said Mrs. 
Markle, blushing again. 

“ Indeed we don’t, Hortense, we think you are 
exactly "right not to ruin the effect of your lovely 
gown,” put in Mary Louise. I know just 
exactly how it is. Sometimes I have a horrid 
time getting myself to look right and nothing 
would make me undo the work. ’ ’ 

Everybody laughed at this, as it was a well 
known fact among Mary Louise’s friends that 
she spent less time in front of the mirror than 
any pretty girl ever did. Being blessed with 
wavy hair that arranged itself, she had nothing 
to do but coil it in a low knot at the nape of 


93 


The Orchid Brooch 

her neck. She had many tastefully chosen gowns 
but they must be easy to get into with no com- 
plications of hooks and buttons to madden her. 
She often changed her dress on th6 fly trusting to 
luck that she was all right. And she usually was. 

Heavens above! I didn^t mean to get in bad. 
Please, Mrs. Markle, forgive me. It has actually 
taken my appetite away. I believe everybody 
here is down on me,’^ moaned Billy. 

‘‘ Not at all, Mr. McGraw, and to show that I 
am not Ifll ask you to come call on us at our 
apartment and then you can see my little breast- 
pin to your heart’s content.” 

Thank you! Thank you! Now I believe I 
will have another piece of cake. My appetite is 
restored,” grinned Billy. 

Bob Dulaney looked thoughtfully at Irene 
while the above conversation was carried on. His 
eye fell on the brooch at her throat, a pretty little 
enameled violet, as modest at the model from 
which it was taken and as unassuming as its 
wearer. He wondered if Irene could take off her 
pin without upsetting her costume. He smiled at 
the thought. On Irene’s smooth brow was a 
slight pucker and in her honest clear eyes he 
could detect a slight suggestion of scorn. It passed 


94 Mary Louise At Dorfield 

immediately and her usual placid expression re- 
turned, but the young man wondered again what 
the lame girl had against the beautiful Mrs. 
Markle and if she had any reasons for what he 
felt was a distrust of the fair stranger. He 
looked up and caught a twinkle in the eye of 
Josie O’Gorman. As though conscious that some- 
one was catching her twinkling when she had no 
idea of letting anyone onto the fact that she 
was amused, Josie immediately took on the dull 
fish-eyed expression which was the despair of 
her friends. 

Umhum! ” said Bob Dulaney to himself. 

These girls are up to something, at least that 
funny red-headed one is. ’ ’ And having a nose for 
news, an essential to every good newspaper man, 
he began to go over the situation in his mind. 

Enter a beautiful stranger, known to most 
of the company! Immediately Irene, who seems 
to be all kindliness and loveliness, shows what 
mi^ht almost be called temper, except that it was 
so carefully kept in that one could hardly see it. 
The beautiful stranger refuses with the utmost 
tact to take off her breast-pin, giving what seemed 
a good excuse and again Irene’s fair brow is 
clouded and the little red-headed girl who is 


The Orchid Brooch 


95 


going to help keep the Higgledy-Piggledy Shop 
is plainly amused, even delighted, but does not 
want anybody to know how she feels. A mys- 
tery is a mystery and, even though it prove 
nothing more than some kind of girlish foolish- 
ness or jealousy, me for the solving of iti 


CHAPTER IX 


THE BOOK OF CRIMINALS 

The carpenters and plumbers were soon bnsj 
with their tasks. The old building rang with the 
sound of hammer and saw. The partitions for 
bedroom, kitchen and bath were up in an incon- 
ceivably short time with the help of the tongue 
and groove sealing which had been cut the right 
length at the lumber yard under Danny’s direc- 
tions. The ready-made doors were hung and the 
bath and small gas range put into place by the 
muscular Bob and connections made by those 
more expert in pipe fitting. 

‘‘ It has been finished so rapidly it is almost 
like the little house Peter Pan built Wendy,” 
laughed Elizabeth. 

It is lovely,” said Lucile, but I’d be afraid 
to sleep in a room that had no top to it. Just 
think how easy it would be for burglars to crawl 
over the partitions and run off with the family 
plate! ” 

But there is no family plate and what there 
9r> 


97 


The Book of Criminals 

is will be out in tbe shop and not in my bedroom. 
Our bedroom, I should say, as I think Elizabeth 
will be spending the summer with me,’’ laughed 
Josie. ‘‘I’m never afraid and besides I carry 
a small automatic for emergencies.” 

“ You do? How amusing I ” said Mrs. Marlde, 
who had stayed on through the afternoon in 
spite of the fact that she had declared she had 
only a moment and wanted to see Mary Louise 
on some important matter which she forgot to 
divulge. She had been very charming and the 
young men, one and all, as Billy McGraw 
expressed it, “ fell for her.” 

“ Don’t forget you are coming to call on us,” 
she said to that young man, sweetly. “ I want 
you and Mr. Markle to know each other. You are 
sure to like each other. I know you think I am 
foolish, but my husband is such a dear.” 

“ Foolish because your husband is a dear? ” 

“ I mean foolish to talk about' it. I know it 
is not the thing in this day and generation for 
the wife to be too much in love with her hus- 
band, but I am hopelessly old-fashioned.” 

“You evidently don’t know Dorfield, Mrs. 
Markle. It seems to be the style here for wives 
to be very fond of their husbands, but^ of course, 


98 Mary Louise At Dor field 

Dorfield is a million years behind the times, 
thank goodness! ’’ 

It is lovely to see a young man who feels 
that way about things. So many young men are 
inclined to be facetious on the subject. Some- 
times they seem to think I am not worth talking 
to because I am so unfeignedly devoted to my 
husband. Of course, I could have a much gayer 
time if I could disguise my feelings, but I can^t 
do it. They seem to think that, because Mr. 
Markle is so much older than I am, I must not 
be sincere in my protestations of affection. How 
absurd they are! 

Your protestations? 

No, I mean the young men.^^ 

Now the above conversation sounds very silly 
when put down in cold print, but when it was 
carried on by a wonderful beautiful young woman 
with a voice that thrilled one down the spinal 
cord with a certain rich cello quality, eyes that 
were so deep and glorious that Billy in looking 
in them had a kind of feeling he must catch hold 
of something to keep from falling in, and withal 
a friendly, sweet, girlish grace, it Aid not seem 
at all silly to Billy McGraw. He forgot all about 
what a nice girl Elizabeth Wright was and how 


99 


The Booh of Criminals 

lie had fully intended to ask her to go to the 
next dance with him, forgot why he had been 
asked to have lunch at the Higgledy-Piggledy 
Shop, forgot everything but how extremely lovely 
Mrs. Markle was and what a lucky dog her old 
husband was. Never having met that gentleman, 
he pictured him as tottering on the brink of the 
grave. 

Hey, Billy, pipe fitting going on! Come on 
and help! What do you think you are here 
for? called Danny. 

Mrs. Markle blushed again adorably. 

Oh, please go! I am mortified that I should 
have kept you chatting with me when they need 
you. You see sometimes I get just a teensy bit 
lonesome and long for the companionship of 
someone nearer my own age, just to talk foolish- 
ness to. My dear husband is so — so — deep and 
intellectual — not that you are not intelligent 
too — oh, ever so much so, but you don’t mind 
stooping to my foolish prattle.” 

Billy went off to fitting pipes with quite a glow; 
around his generous, boyish heart. 

^ ‘ Poor little girl ! I fancy she does get bored 
with such an old dry-as-dust as Markle must be. 
I’ll see if I can’t give her some good times.” 


100 Mary Louise At Dor field 

Now do tell me something of what your 
plans are in this delightful place, said Mrs. 
Markle, joining Josie and Elizabeth, who were 
busily engaged in unpacking more and more 
books, which Irene, seated on a low chair, was 
dusting and placing on the shelves. 

Well, this corner is our information bureau. 
These books are all of them different kinds of 
encyclopedias. Anybody who wants to know any- 
thing can come to us and we can come mighty 
near telling him or her what is wanted.’’ 

Where did you get such a collection, child? 
It is wonderful.” 

It was my father’s,” said Josie, with the 
look in her eyes that always came at mention of 
her father. 

Your father was the great detective, was he 
not? ” 

Yes! ” 

‘ ‘ He was a wonderful man, so I have heard. ’ ’ 

Yes, he was, thank you.” Josie ’s tone was 
quite final, so Hortense did not pursue the 
subject. 

What else are you to do in your shop? ” 
she asked. 

Oh, we are to have the literary work-shop, of 


101 


The Book of Criminals 

which I spoke to you/’ said Elizabeth. And 
we are to have antiques of all kinds, and we are 
to take orders for sewing and fancy work. We 
will order any book direct from the publisher. 
We take orders for score cards, menu cards, 
name cards, or anything of that sort. Of course, 
we don’t do those things ourselves, but we will 
take the orders and get a small commission for 
them. Now Josie wants to open up a laundry 
where we have all kinds of fine laces, table linen, 
etc., done up. If that grows we shall have to get 
someone to take hold of it, but Josie says she 
can wash and iron as well as a blanchisseuse de 
fin and, if we don’t get too many orders, she will 
attend to that end herself.” 

‘‘It is my one accomplishment,” said Josie, 
“ and I have a passion for it I’d rather launder 
laces and fine linen than do anything in the 
world. I am no good at sewing or embroidering, 
but I can certainly add to anyone’s needlework 
by my manipulation of a flat-iron.” 

“ How interesting! ” said Hortense. “ Now 
I adore needlework, but am helijless with an 
iron and the more I wash things the dirtier they 
get. I have just finished some napldns and 
despair of ever getting them done up properly. 


102 


Mary Louise At Dor field 

My maid is a wretched laundress, almost as bad 
as her mistress. How I should love to be your 
first customer! Please let me bring my damask 
to you.^’ 

<< Why, of course,’’ answered Josie. As soon 
as the boys get the gas stove up I am ready for 
washing and as soon as they get the electric 
wires installed I am ready for ironing.” 

Irene had gone on steadily with her dusting 
while Hortens e had been talking, never once 
looking up from her task. Occasionally, she 
opened one of the books and glanced at its con- 
tents. What a lot of learning one could find 
between the covers of those solid books! One 
long narrow book with a binding evidently home- 
made attracted her attention. She opened it, but 
its contents were still as a closed book to her. 
It was closely written manuscript of strange 
characters about as unintelligible as the notes of 
a stenographer would ordinarily be to her 
employer. 

Wliat is this, Josie? ” 

Oh, that is my father’s notebook! I am 
glad to see it,” exclaimed Josie. I never in- 
tended to pack it with the other books but in the 
confusion of getting off I forgot it. I wouldn’t 


The Book of Criminals 103 

lose it for all the wealth of the Indies.’^ She 
clasped it to her bosom. 

That is the one you told me about? asked 
Mary Louise, joining the group in the corner, 

with all the notes he made about criminals and 
suspected criminals? Perhaps you don’t know 
it, Hortense, but Josie’s father knew more about 
the criminals in the United States, and the world 
perhaps, than almost anybody.” 

‘ ‘ Ah, indeed ! The book must be interesting 
reading for a student of criminology. I abhor 
the subject myself.” 

“ What’s that you abhor? ” asked Bob Du- 
laney, who had no occupation for the time being, 
having helped lift everything that could be lifted 
and so had leisure to join the girls. 

‘‘ Criminology! ” 

<< Why, it is the most interesting subject in the . 
world,” said Bob. 

‘‘ Well, you would like this book then,” said 
Mary Louise, explaining it to the newcomer. 
Josie stood by with her fishy-eyed expression. 

You don’t mean Detective 0 ’Gorman’s book! 
Why, I didn’t know you were the daughter of 
Detective O’Gorman. Know about him! I should 
say I did. Why, there isn’t a newspaper chap 


101: Mary Louise At Dor field 

in the United States that doesn’t know about 
him. Gee, I’d like to get my hooks on his book.” 

‘‘ Well, his book is all pot hooks, so it wouldn’t 
do you much good if you did,’^ laughed Josie, 
opening it so he could glance down a page. I 
wouldn’t let it out of my possession for a mint 
of money.” 

If it’s something old Lifter wants you had 
better nail it down,” said Tim Turner. ‘‘Re- 
member what I told you about the ding dong.” 

“ I guess it will be safe here,” said Josie, put- 
ting the slim volume of mysterious manuscript 
between two ponderous tomes. 

“ Sure,” laughed Bob, “ unless I come snoop- 
ing in at night. It wouldn’t be so hard to make 
an entrance in this old building.” 

“ Don’t say such things,” begged Mary Louise. 
“ I am scared to death to have Josie stay here 
by herseK as it is.” 

“ Nonsense! ” declared Josie. . 

“ Not nonsense at all! ” insisted Maiy Louise. 
“ Anyhow, I am glad you can’t stay to-night.” 

“ Well, as far as our work is concerned she 
can,” declared Danny. “ The water and gas 
are comiected and the walls of her house are 
built.” 


105 


The Booh of Criminals 

‘‘ Slie just caji’t, though! ’’ said Mary Louise, 
putting her arm around her friend. Josie put 
on her dull-eyed look and said nothing, only 
hugged her darling Mary Louise with warm 
affeotion. 


CHAPTER X 


CHIEF CHAKLEY LONSDALE 

<< Why don’t yon like Mrs. Marklef ” Josie 
asked Irene as they sat in Mary Louise’s car 
while she went in a shop on a housekeeping 
errand on their way home from the Higgledy- 
Piggledy after the strenuous day of unpacking 
and carpentering and plumbing. 

<< Why do you think I don’t like her? ” and 
Irene tried not to give herself away to the 
astute Josie. 

Why, Irene dear, you couldn’t deceive a 
flea! ” 

I hope I wasn’t rude to her. I try always 
to be extra polite to her. ’ ’ 

‘ ‘ Oh, you were polite enough, but your eyes 
are ‘ wells of truth ’ and one only has to look in 
them to know what your sentiments are.” 

‘‘ I didn’t know that! Mercy, what am I to 
do? Put on smoked glasses? ” 

^ ^ Fortunately, you are inclined to like mankind, 
so won’t have to wear smoked glasses all the 
106 


107 


Chief Charley Lonsdale 

time/^ laughed Josie. But you haven’t told 
me why you don’t like her.’^ 

‘‘ I have no reason for a strange feeling of 
distrust and abhorrence that comes over me when 
she approaches. I know she is beautiful and 
clever and charming and I fully realize that I 
am foolish to harbor such sentiments, but, try 
as I may, I cannot get rid of the feeling. It is 
one of nameless depression, a kind of smothered 
sensation. ’ ’ 

“ Like some persons have when cats come in 
the room? ” 

‘‘ Exactly! Now do you think I am mean and 
silly? 

‘‘ No, not in the last! I think you perhaps 
have some kind of occult power that I wish I 
had myself. Now I don’t fancy the lady myself, 
but it is because her name is Hortense.” 

<< Why, what has that to do with her char- 
acter? ” 

Nothing on earth, but I have an antipathy to 
certain names and Hortense is one of them. Of 
course, I am well aware of the fact that there are 
many good Hortenses, as many as there are good 
Josies, but, somehow, it seems that I am not the 
one to meet the good ones. They are always a 


108 Mary Louise At Dorfield 

bit false, tbe Hortenses I have known. Now 
yon are thinking I am silly. Confess! 

‘‘No, not at all silly, but a bit unreasonable,’’ 
laughed Irene. “ I fancy Mrs. Markle’s parents 
gave her that name and she had nothing to do 
with it.” 

“ I am not so sure of that. They may have 
named her plain Jane or even Maria or Hannah 
and she may have felt Hortense more in keep- 
ing. I’ll give it to her she has wonderful taste 
and Hannah would have been out of tone with 
her general make-up. Why do you think she 
wouldn’t let that young Mr. McGraw see her 
pin? ” 

WTiy, wasn’t her reason given sufficient? ” 
asked Irene. 

“Not to me! Either there was something 
about the pin she did not want him to see or 
she wanted to get him to come to her apartment 
and call and thought that would be a good way 
to manage it.” 

“ Oh, Josie, you are hard on her! ” 

“ Well, when you don’t like a person, you might 
as well find out why and that is what I am doing. 

I am just trying to analyze my emotions and 
find a cause for the effect. I must prove to myself 


109 


Chief Charley Lonsdale 

for my own private satisfaction why tlie bristles 
stand np on my spine when tbe pretty lady comes 
around/^ 

You did not show you felt that way in tbe 
least. I wish I could hide my feelings as well 
as you/^ sighed Irene. 

‘‘ Please don’t try to! You, with your instinct 
to detect evil, would prove too valuable to a 
would-be detective. Not that I am one,” quickly 
added Josie, who was determined not to let any- 
one know of her dual occupation. 

After an early tea, Josie, in spite of objections 
raised by Mary Louise, insisted upon going back 
to her Higgledy-Piggledy apartment. 

I might just as well get used to it, honey. 
It is going to be in a mess for a while yet, but 
if I can be there early and late just so much the 
sooner will we begin operations. To-morrow is 
Sunday and I can have a nice long day to write 
letters that must be written and look over some 
papers. That won’t be too much like working 
on the Sabbalih, and I can begin to work in dead 
earnest early Monday morning. I’ll see you at 
church to-morrow though, however.” 

Josie refused the offer Mary Louise made of 
sending her home in her car but insisted her legs 


110 


Mary Lomse At Dor field 

were made to use, and if she got too accustomed 
to riding around in cars, it would spoil her for 
more primitive forms of locomotion. 

Josie did not go directly to her shop after 
leaving Colonel Hathaway’s, but slipping down 
a side street she walked quietly into the police 
station. Josie had a power inherited directly 
from her father of being almost invisible, that is 
she moved so quietly and was so unobtrusive in 
manner and dress that she could pass in a crowd 
absolutely unnoticed, and even where there was 
not a crowd, she had a way of effacing herself so 
that she might stand in one’s . presence for 
minutes without being observed. And after she 
was observed, it would tax the powers of the 
most alert to describe the girl, so neutral could 
she appear. Her red hair even seemed to be- 
come dun and colorless when she, for some 
reason, was intent on being unnoticed. 

The police station was quiet. It was too early 
for the usual Saturday night bustle of business. 
An officer was dozing at his exalted desk with a 
great book open in front of him, the book where 
the business of the day was recorded. At'the door 
sat another policeman. He too was napping with 
his stiffi belt unbuttoned and liis helmet cocked 


Chief Charley Lonsdale 


111 


over his closed eyes, 'his legs stretched out as 
though to trip up the unwary. 

Josie was far from being in that class, how- 
ever. She quietly and lightly jumped over the 
hurdle of legs and slipped under the nose of the 
man at the desk and made her way down a hall 
to the door of the Chief of Police, Captain 
Charley Lonsdale. 

The chief was not asleep, far from it, but he 
was lost in the perusal of some closely written 
sheets over which he was knotting his beetling 
brows. His door was ajar and with a small tap 
to announce herself Josie entered and stood 
before him. He grunted in acknowledgment that 
he knew someone was in his presence to whom 
he would give his attention when he solved some 
troublesome problem. 

Well, what is it? he finally jerked out, 
looking up from his papers. Why, bless my 
soul! If it ainT little O’Gorman. Child, I am 
glad to see you. I can’t tell you how I have felt 
about your father. Why, we’ll never get over his 
loss in the service. What he didn’t know about 
criminals was not worth knowing. A good man 
too! A good man, for sure! I wish I had him 
here right now to help me out with a case. I 


112 Mary Louise At Dor field 

don’t see why those fellows in the East think 
their crooks are working around here. I don’t 
believe they are,” he declared, glancing again 
at the papers which had so absorbed his atten- 
tion on Josie’s entrance. 

^ ‘ What is the case I ’ ’ she asked, looking keenly 
at the chief. 

Oh, just the same old tale of crooks, but this 
time they seem to be stealing lots of things 
besides money. They have actually walked off 
with the entire furnishings of apartments, rugs, 
sideboards, pictures, even beds and wardrobes 
and whole sets of china. There must be an un- 
broken chain of them extending through the 
states. It is post-war conditions that we might 
have expected, but it seems to be even worse 
than we had anticipated and now they are worry- 
ing me about things that were lost in New York 
and Boston. I am sure nobody would come to 
Dorfield with stolen goods. Aren’t you? ” 

Josie said nothing and the chief looked at 
her keenly. 

Well? ” he asked. ‘‘ What do you say? ” 

I don’t know.” 

Do you still dabble in detective work? ” 

No, I never did dabble.” 


Chief Charley Lonsdale 113 

So! he laughed, You were in it in dead 
earnest, ’ ’ 

Exactly! 

‘‘•Well, you are your father ^s own daughter 
and waste no words, I reckon you are here 
hunting a job.’’ 

I have a job, sir, I am keeping a shop,” 
Josie then told him of the Higgledy-Piggledy 
Shop and what her ideas were in regard to the 
^running of it in connectibn with a secret detec- 
tive service. 

Already I have a clue I want to follow up, 
sir,” she told him, but, of course, if you could 
put me on the force it might be a help to me at 
some time; The shining star displayed on occa- 
sions sometimes has a good effect,” 

You are right. Sometimes it means more 
than a loaded pistol,” laughed the chief. 

Well, good-by, sir,” and Josie flitted from 
the chief’s office and by the drowsing attendants 
in the outer office without their being conscious 
of the fact that she had been in the building, 
YHiat a fine little girl! ” mused the chief. 

She knows how to leave when her business is 
over with, too. That’s something precious few 
folks understand. I wish I had more like her 


114 


Mary Louise At Dorfield 

on the force. I forgot to ask her if she had a 
telephone.’’ He rang his bell, which buzzed teas- 
ingly near the ear of the policeman sprawling 
at the door over whose legs Josie had lightly 
jumped. ’ 

Casey,” he asked when the huge Irishman 
made his appearance trying to conceal the fact 
that he was not quite awake, has the young 
lady got out of sight? ” 

Yes, sorr, clane out of sight! ” And Casey 
blinked rapidly. 

Well, that’s all! ” said the chief shortly. 

Yes, sorr! ” and Casey made a hasty 
retreat. 

He remarked to the man at the desk, whose 
slumbers had also been broken by the buzzer: 

“ Sure an’ Chief Charley has been slapin’ an’ 
dramin’ uv the ladies. He was arfter wantin’ 
to know if the young lady was out uv sight. I 
could truthfully tell him she was that. There’s 
been no young lady here.” 


CHAPTER XI 


A SKELETON KEY 

It was dusk when Josie fitted the great brass 
key into the door of the Higgledy-Piggledy Shop. 
The place looked very large and bleak and Josie 
felt small and lonesome, but she said to herself 
that it was no time to give way to such weak- 
ness. She did not switch on the light, although 
the amateur plumbers and electricians had not 
left until everything was in 0. K. condition. 
Instead she produced a small search light and 
with its aid went to work on a mysterious bit of 
business. Peering along the shelves, she put her 
hand on the book of her father ^s notes, the one 
with the home-made binding. Diving into the 
tray of a small trunk, she produced a handful of 
papers covered with cryptic hieroglyphics similar 
to those found in the precious notebook. With 
deft fingers she ripped the back from the note- 
book, carefully placing the contents in a large 
pocket in her petticoat. Securely pinning it 
with a huge safety pin, then smoothing out the 
115 


116 Mary Louise At Dor field 

loose papers she had extracted from the trunk, 
she proceeded to do a clever and neat job of 
amateur book binding sewing on the old back of 
the notebook. Then she put the book between 
the ponderous tomes where it had been before. 

Patting her pocket where reposed the precious 
notes and also the huge brass key which she 
had removed from the door after locking it, Josie 
then made her way by the packing boxes and 
debris, that all the willing workers had not been 
able to clear away on that busy Saturday after- 
noon, back to the bedroom. Her little iron bed 
was made up with fresh linen and pretty 'dimity 
spread and looked very inviting to the tired girl. 

‘‘ I^d certainly like to tumble in,^’ she yawned, 
“ but this is no time for sleep. Father always 
said: ‘ Work first and then sleep! ^ 

Shutting the door to the partition which 
divided her bedroom from the shop, she turned 
on the shaded reading light which Danny had 
placed at the head of the bed, under the direc- 
tions of Mary Louise, and drawing up a low 
chair she unpinned the notes and drew them 
from her pocket. 

‘ ‘ Dear Father ! ’ ’ she sighed. ‘ ^ What a man 
he was! ” 


A Skeleton Key 


117 


Detective O’Gorman had taught his daughter 
the code in which he made his notes and Josie 
could read the hieroglyphics as easily as she 
could printed English. She could write it as 
rapidly as a first-class stenographer can short- 
hand. Turning over the leaves she cam^ to one 
that riveted her attention. 

V Exactly! ” she muttered. ‘‘ He could have 
been a great novelist if he had not have been so 
busy being a great detective. There never were 
such accurate, concise descriptions. Here are 
their aliases too: my, what a lot of names they 
can answer to — and as many crimes as names 
if one can only catch them in the act. They have 
so many confederates they always go soot free. 
Won’t my father be proud of me if I am the one 
to get them? I mean to be that one, too.” 

She put the notes back in her pocket, pinning 
them carefully as before. Then she produced 
from another pocket a small revolver which she 
examined critically. 

I’m not going to use it, but it must be ready 
— in case — ” 

She stopped suddenly. 

What’s that? Tenants stumping around 
overhead? Eats in the wainscoting? There are 


118 Mary Louise At Dor field 

rats/^ She listened intently, switching off the 
light hanging over her bed. 

That old-fashioned brass lock will be easy 
to open with a skeleton key,’’ she decided. If 
they are coming here it will be only a moment 
before they are in the room.” Grabbing her tell- 
tale hat and gloves and small bag, she dived 
under the bed, the pretty dimity spread hanging 
down on the side making a curtain for her 
retreat. 

The town clock was striking twelve as the 
skeleton key finally unlocked the door. Josie 
lay very still listening eagerly. 

We might just as well switch on the light,” 
said a man’s voice. 

A bit imprudent, but, of course, nobody in 
this stupid old town would notice.” The voice 
was undoubtedly Mrs. Markle’s. 

I fancy everybody, even the police force, is 
asleep by now,” laughed the man. 

Josie felt for her detective’s badge pinned in 
the breast pocket of her dress, and smiled hap- 
pily in her retreat behind the dimity spread. 

Here is the book, Felix, exactly where that 
dull little O’Gorman girl put it. Do you think 
you will ever be able to make out the code? ” 


A Skeleton Key 


119 


Snre! There is no code I can’t work. It 
may take time but it will be great fnn to find 
out what that old devil O’Gorman thought of us. 
It will be helpful tod to find out exactly what 
he knew; and think of destroying all trace of 
our identity.” 

‘‘ Umhum! I am dull and my father was a 
devil,” mused Josie. ‘‘ Two more reasons for 
catching you red-handed, you Markles! ” 

“ Here are the scissors,” went on the rich 
voice of Mrs. Markle. ‘‘ Let me rip out the 
notes. Clumsy! Here, these blank papers can 
be stitched in their place. The girl will no doubt 
not think of opening this book for weeks, maybe 
never, but she knows the code and might want 
to read the notes sooner. There you are! Now 
put it back in between those big books. Now 
shall we be off? ” 

“ Let’s look around now that we are here. 
This is a clever idea of that O’Gorman girl’s, 
to run this shop. Are you sure she is so dull? ” 
asked the man. 

“ Sure! She has a fish eye and a face like a 
dumpling.” 

‘‘ O’Gorman had too, and he wasn’t dull,” 
said Mr. Markle with some doubt in his tone. 


120 Mary Louise At Dor field 

‘‘ Oh, trust me, Felix, to know when a woman 
has sense. I don’t believe she even has any 
humor. ’ ’ 

Josie smothered a giggle and drew her little 
revolver from her pocket. The interlopers were 
pushing open the door of her bedroom and 
without further ceremony switched on the light. 
The girl could see their feet from her hiding 
place, and exceedingly shapely, well, shod feet 
they were. 

A pretty snug place,” said Felix. Nothing- 
worth lifting, however.” 

‘‘Not now, but wait until they begin to stock 
up with antique furniture and jewelry and what 
not. There will be plenty then. I am going to 
give them lots of work so I can come here often. 
One will get to know very desirable persons 
through these girls. That little soft fool, Mary 
Louise, knows everybody and she is very much 
interested in this venture and is going to push 
it for all it is worth. My first job for them is 
laundering those napkins I have just finished.” 

“ Oh, what a clever pet it is! ” and Felix 
stopped and kissed Hortense. “A man never 
had such a partner before, I am sure.” 

“ What an old goose you are! ” Her voice 


A Skeleton Key 


121 


was as pleased and affectionate as any woman’s 
might have been who had won her husband’s 
approbation by some wifely act. 

‘‘ Come on now! Let’s get out. We have 
what we came for and I am eager to get busy 
on that old devil 0 ’Gorman’s code.” 

They switched off the light and locked the 
door carefully. Josie scuttled from under her 
bed and ran to the front window. Peeping down 
into the faintly lighted street she saw the 
Markles walking off affectionately, arm in arm. 

“ And poor man, he is going to master 
Father’s code so he can read Francis Thomp- 
son’s ‘ The Hound of Heaven,’ ” and Josie 
allowed herself a good laugh. 

The notes Mr. Markle had so carefully carried 
off were nothing more than Josie ’s lessons she, 
had written out when her father was teaching 
her the code. 

Maybe it will do them some good,” said the 
girl with a feeling akin to sympathy iff her 
heart. I feel kind of sorry for the poor 
wretches. Father said he always felt sorry 
for criminals.” 

As the girl undressed she recited The Hound 
of Heaven.” 


122 Mary Louise At Dor field 

I fled Him, down the nights and down 
the days; 

I fled Him, down the arches of the years ; 

I fled Him, down the labyrinthine ways 
Of my own mind; and in the midst of 
tears 

I hid from Him, and under running 
laughter. 

Up vistaed hopes I sped; 

And shot, precipitated 

Adown Titanic glooms of chasmM tears. 
From those strong Feet that followed, 
followed after. 

But with unhurrying chase, 

And unperturbed pace, 

Deliberate speed, majestic instancy. 
They beat — and a Voice beat 
More instant than the Feet — 

‘ All things betray thee, who betrayest 
Me.^ 


CHAPTER XII 


BILLY MAKES A CALL 

Josie told not a soul of her experience on her 
first night spent in the Higgledy-Piggledy Shop. 
She felt as though perhaps she should have 
taken Chief Lonsdale into her confidence, but 
on the other hand was so afraid a mere man 
might bungle the thing. Besides she felt a 
pardonable pride in the possibility of being the 
one to solve a mystery that had been puzzling 
the wise heads of the secret service for some 
time. Thefts were constantly being reported 
from wealthy persons, high in the social world, 
from every city in the union. All kinds of 
household goods would disappear most mys- 
teriously, pictures, bric-a-brac, rugs, books ; 
sometimes even furniture heavy enough to take 
two strong men to move, would be spirited 
away in a style uncanny to say the least. Un- 
suspecting people would lock their apartments 
and .go off for a pleasant week-end in the coun- 
try, perhaps leave servants in charge, and come 
123 


124 Mary Louise At Dor field 

home to rooms bereft of all valuables. The 
thieves always showed excellent taste and never 
stole anything but the best. Similar losses were 
reported from East and West, North and South. 

Of course our little detective had many mis- 
givings on the subject of the intimacy between 
her dear Mary Louise and the Markles, which 
seemed to be growing closer and warmer as the 
days went on. 

I am as sure as sure can be of their per- 
fidy. I certainly did not go to sleep under the 
bed and dream that they came in and did and 
said what they did, vbut I must bide my time 
or they will get off without my proving anything 
of importance on them,’’ she would say to her- 
self when she saw Hortense with her arm around 
Mary Louise, making a great show of affection. 

Hortense Markle knew very well how to make 
herself both agreeable and useful. She would 
spend hours playing chess with Colonel Hatha- 
way or she would go to the greatest trouble to 
match some bit of lace for Mary Louise. She 
spent much of her time engaged in matchless 
needlework for the prospective bride. She was 
so pleasant, so agreeable and so very pretty 
that one could not help liking her. Most of Mary 


125 


Billy Makes a Call 

Louise^s friends found her quite as charming 
as Mary Louise did. Irene MacFarlane was 
the only one who did not succumb to her 
fascination. 

Poor Irene! She had many a struggle with 
herself on the subject of Hortense Markle. 
She felt that her dislike was unreasonable and 
endeavored in every way to hide it, but she 
was of such a truthful nature that it was im- 
possible for her to dissemble. In the mean- 
time preparations for the wedding were under 
way and all of the group of girls chosen to 
be bridesmaids were busy over their frocks. 
Irene was willing to assist in any way, but 
Mrs. Markle was the one whose help was 
oftener asked. 

It is not that I am jealous,’^ Irene would 
say to herself. It can’t be that. I have 
never been jealous in my life. I have an in- 
stinct of distrust that I can’t overcome. Her 
husband affects me the same way. What am 
I that I should set myself up as a person 
whose instinct is of any value? They must 
be all that they seem or so many persons 
would not be attracted by them.” 

She rather hoped Josie O’Gorman would 


126 


Mary Louise At Dor field 

feel like discussing the matter with her after 
their little talk concerning Hortense Markle 
on the day the Higgledy-Piggledy Shop had 
its house warming, hut the astute Josie did not 
mention it again and Irene felt that she must 
not he the one to approach the subject. 

The Higgledy-Piggledy Shop was getting on 
its feet in great shape. It was a novelty in 
Dorfield and found its customers because of 
its unusualness at first and then those cus- 
tomers returned because of the efficiency of 
the young shopkeepers. 

Elizabeth Wright was kept quite busy hunt- 
ing up facts for students on many and various 
subjects. She had typing to do and even 
obituary notices to write and sometimes love 
letters to compose for bashful young men and 
maidens. It was her lot to write club papers on 
every subject from Shakespeare to the musical 
glasses. 

Josie had felt it necessary to take Eliza- 
beth into her confidence concerning her being 
connected with the secret service, but never 
once had she divulged her suspicions of the 
attractive Markles. The one little talk she 
had had with Irene was the only time she had 


Billy Makes a Call 


127 


let herself go in the least conoemmg those 
persons whom she hoped to catch up with in 
some of their supposed villainies. Elizabeth 
was as enthusiastic about the beautiful Hor- 
tens e as were all of the young people of her 
set, in spite of the fact that her sisters and 
mother declared the young married woman had 
an inclination to monopolize the eligible young 
men of their acquaintance. BiUy McGraw 
certainly was very attentive to her, although 
his liking for Elizabeth was growing day by 
day. 

She’s such a good fellow,” he would say 
to himself, never thinking of her as anything 
but a pal, however, while he spent many a 
wakeful night tormented by the thought of Hor- 
tense Markle, for whom he had a chivalrous 
pity because of being married to such an un- 
sympathetic middle-aged man. Many were the 
calls he made at the Markles’ charming apart- 
ment, when Mr. Markle would make himself 
obligingly scarce and leave the young man to 
delightful tete-a-tetes with his charming young 
wife. 

You promised to let me see the orchid pin 
when I came to see you,” he remarked on his 


128 Mary Louise At Dor field 

first call, which was on the very next evenin^>: 
after the luncheon at the Higgledy-Piggledy. 

Why, of course,” she responded readily. 

But I am so sorry it is not here. The catch 
vras a little weak and Felix took it yesterday 
afternoon to the jewelers to have it strength- 
ened. I would not lose it for worlds with all 
of its tender associations. I know you think I 
am sentimental. ’ ^ 

‘‘ Not at all! That is just the way Vi Thomas 
felt about hers, the one that was a counterpart 
of yours. By the way, I heard from Jerald 
Thomas only yesterday afternoon. It was 
something of a coincidence that we should have 
been talking about him at luncheon. I have 
not heard from him for ages. He tells me that 
he and Vi went off to Atlantic City several 
months ago for a breathing spell, leaving their 
apartment in charge of a trusted butler. They 
had wonderful furnishings, rugs, etchings and 
so forth. When they came back their place 
was cleared of everything in the least valuable. 
The butler had gone out to dinner with some 
friend he had picked up and had been drugged 
and not able to get back to his place, and while 
he was sleeping off his drunk, thieves had 


Billy Makes a Call 


129 


simply lifted tlie whole blooming business. Vi’s 
jewels bad been taken from tbe safe too. I 
don’t know whether they got her orchid pin or 
not.” 

‘‘ How terrible! ” cried Hortense. ‘‘ I can’t 
think of a greater calamity than losing my pre- 
cious household gods, things that Felix and I 
have so carefully selected and for which we’ve 
denied ourselves so much.” 

You have some fine etchings too, have you 
not*? I don’t know much about etchings, but I 
like them a lot.” 

Yes, but don’t look at them now. Felix 
adores showing them to people and he knows 
all about them. The next time you come he will 
take great pleasure in showing them to you. 
Just talk to me now.” 

Sure! ” said Billy quite flattered that such 
a beautiful lady cared to talk to him. ‘‘ Jerry 
and Vi Thomas were quite keen on etchings 
too. They had some rare signed proof ones, 
and Jerry was, very particular about the frames 
too. He had some wonderful ebony frames 
made that were almost as vaulable as the 
etchings. ’ ’ 

How lovely they must have been,” said 


130 Mary Louise At Dorfield 

Hortense. ‘‘ Let’s go out on the balcony. It 
seems warm in here to me.” 

<< Why not come for a spin in my carT It's 
parked around the corner.” 

All right! You go and gbt it and I’ll be 
down directly.” 

She ushered her caller out and ran back to a 
small den in the rear of the apartment where 
her husband was busily engaged trying to find 
the key to Detective 0 ’Gorman’s cryptic code. 

I’m going out for a ride with Mr. McGraw. 
While I am gone, for goodness’ sake take down 
from the walls those signed Rembrandts and 
Whistlers, the ones in the ebony frames, and 
put something else in their places. This callow 
youth, Billy McGraw, is a great friend of the 
Thomases and has a liking for etchings.” 

Good girl! You didn’t let him see them! ” 

Not I! I had to make him look at me 
instead. ’ ’ 

He pinched her cheek a:ffectionately and looked 
at her with admiration shining in his eyes. 

Please get the mark off the orchid pin soon, 
dear, as I need it sorely for my new dress.” 

I’ll do it this afternoon,” he promised. 
‘‘ I guess this code can keep. It is deucedly 


131 


Billy Makes a Call 

liard. I may have to get you to help me. You 
are a clever pet and can jump at a conclusion 
it takes a clumsy man days to reach.’’ 

Hortense smiled happily. There is one 
thing I don’t like about this business, Felix.” 

And what is that? ” 

I don’t like this thing of having to pretend 
to these foolish youths that you are a stern 
middle-aged person who is not in the least en 
rapport with me. You are so much more won- 
derful than any man I ever see anywhere.” 

Well, pet, we trust each other — eh? ” and 
he looked searchingly in her eyes. 

‘ ‘ Oh, Felix, what a question ! ’ ’ and she kissed 
him lightly on his smooth, iron-grey hair and 
ran off for her ride with Billy McGraw. 


CHAPTER Xin 


BUSINESS COMING ON 

True to his determination to let no wish of 
Mary Louise’s go unfulfilled, Danny Dexter 
rigged up an elevator to the Higgledy-Piggledy 
Shop, so that Irene MacFarlane could go there 
at any time without waiting for Bob Dulaney or 
Danny to carry her upstairs. In days gone by 
there had been a dumb-waiter in the back of the 
old building but it had long since been abandoned 
because of its rusty pulleys and broken cords. 
This dumb-waiter shaft had been used by the 
shifting tenants as a receptacle for all kinds of 
debris. In cleaning it out before he could find 
room to rig up the little elevator, Danny de- 
clared there was nothing he didn’t find from 
broken baby carriages to old sets of false teeth. 
The only drawback to the elevator was that one 
must enter by way of the alley, but Irene in- 
sisted that made no ditference whatsoever. 
Sometimes she came to the shop, which was not 
far from her home, propelling herself in her 

132 


Business Coming On 133 

wheelchair. She would roll up the alley, which 
was fortunately paved and not too rough, right 
into the little elevator that was the exact di- 
mensions of her chair. Then with a vigorous 
pull on the rope with her strong and capable 
hands, she would shoot to the second floor and 
roll out into the Higgledy-Piggledy Shop. 

Her coming was always greeted with exclama- 
tions of delight by the proprietors of the shop. 
Clever Danny had so well rigged the little ele- 
vator that the usual groaning and squeaking 
of a misnamed dumb-waiter had been done 
away with. Her coming would be unheralded 
by bell or knock and she would glide from the 
shaft like a veritable fairy princess, so Eliza- 
beth declared. 

Irene part in the shop had become a very 
important one, so important that Josie and 
Elizabeth felt they could hardly do without her. 
The lame girPs skill with the needle was in 
great demand, as one of the chief industries of 
the unique shop was fine mending, which was 
not the long suit of either Josie or Elizabeth. 
One of their principles in running their busi- 
ness, however, was that they must undertake 
everything that came their way and then, if 


134 Mary Louise At Dor field 

they could not do it themselves, as Josie put it, 
they would farm it out/’ 

My, I’m glad to see you! ” exclaimed Josie 
as Irene came gliding from the elevator into 
their midst. ‘‘A lot of lace to be mended and 
laundered has just arrived. Exquisite stuff and 
a hurry call. Can you spend the day and work 
on it for us? There will he at least three dol- 
lars in it for you.” 

Of course I can, if you will telephone 
Auntie,” and Irene drew from her bag her 
thimble and needle case and soon was at work 
mending the exquisite point lace, that had been 
left at the shop only that morning by a wealthy 
and particular old lady. At times, where the 
work was very delicate, Irene made use of a 
magnifying glass, which was as much a part of 
her little sewing kit as her thimble and the very 
fine needles she delighted in, and the sharp 
scissors, no longer than her little finger, and the 
assortment of cotton and silk threads. 

I am going to launder the lace that does not 
need mending,” said Josie, getting out a dimin- 
utive tub, placing ready an ironing board and 
attaching her electric iron. 

And I’ll go on with my typing,” said Eliza- 


Business Coming On 135 

beth. It is manuscript from a would-be 
authoress who is all dashes and an occasional 
period when her pen seemed to be out of breath. 
I think I should charge extra for punctuation, 
don’t you, Irene? ” 

Certainly,” laughed Irene, but how would 
you grade your charges? ” 

I’ll give a period for nothing. It is a kind 
of relief to make a period after such an effusion 
as this : ‘ His flashing eye was bent on her with 
a look of mingled admiration and rage while 
in spite of the feeling of uncontrollable fear 
that filled her pure heart to the brim the beau- 
tiful girl first breathing a prayer to her 
Heavenly Father of whose watchful care she 
was ever conscious no matter how severe her 
trials and tribulations raised her sad blue eyes 
and looked into the bold black ones of the in- 
sinuating villain who had by his machinatiojns 
brought her to this lonesome spot where fie 
hoped to have her in his power and as she 
looked into those wicked orbs that seemed to 
Elaine very like the lonesome miasmic tarn by 
which she had been led on this perilous journey 
she felt sure of the power of good over evil and 
as the realization of this great truth came to 


136 


Mary Louise At Dor field 


her the wretch dropped his eyes and turned 
away/ All this without a punctuation mark of 
any kind, not even a dash, except at the tail 
end where I have thrown in a period. I should 
get a tenth of a cent for every comma and at 
least a fifth for semicolons — they come high — 
and as for a colon: it is worth anything one 
wishes to charge. I think there is nothing so 
elegant as colons. They have such a knowing 
air. ^ ’ 

Irene and Josie laughed heartily at Eliza- 
beth, who went on with her typing, occasionally 
reading to them choice bits from the manu- 
script. 

Of course, this joking can only be in the 
bosom of our official family,^’ said Elizabeth. 

It would never do to get out that we make 
fun of our patrons.’^ 

' ‘‘ And so is that what you do? was the gay 
question flung at them from the door. It was 
[lortense Markle. ‘‘ I knocked, but you were 
aughing so gaily and the typewriter was click- 
ng so noisily that you did not hear.’^ She 
tripped in, laying a large package on the table. 

Come in! We are very glad to see you,’’ 
said Josie cordially, but into her eyes came 


Business Coming On 137 

the dull fishy look she could assume at will. 
Elizabeth spoke hospitably to their guest, mov- 
ing some pamphlets from a chair to make room 
for her. Irene tried to bring a smile of wel- 
come to her calm, sweet eyes, hut she felt that 
anyone who chose to look could easily tell it 
was perfunctory. 

‘‘ I have brought the damask napkins that 
you promised to launder for me,” said Hor- 
tense, untying the cord around her package. 

I have just completed the initials and am 
anxious to have them done up, as I am sure you 
can do them,” smiling and bowing prettily to 
Josie. ‘‘It is wonderful linen, some Felix got 
for me the last time he was in New York. He 
paid untold sums for it but he knows how fond 
I am of beautiful linen.” She opened up the 
package and displayed the napkins, vrhich were 
of exquisite damask of a rare and artistic 
pattern. 

“ Why, they have been laundered once,” said 
Irene, looking at one of the napkins with the 
pleasure she always felt at the touch of fine 
fabrics. 

“Oh, yes, I often have damask wa-shed before 
I embroider it. It is so much softer and more 


138 


Mary Louise At Dor field 

sympathetic to the needle. Does not resist it 
as does unlaundered linen/’ explained Hortense 
easily. 

We have some lace on hand for to-day. 
Would you mind waiting until to-morrow for 
your napkins? ” asked Josie. 

Not at all! There is no hurry.” 

I must count them and put them down on 
our books,” said Josie with a business-like air. 
<< Why, there are only twenty-two here. How 
did you happen not to have the full two dozen? ” 

Are you sure? I thought there were two 
dozen,” said Hortense, frowning as though try- 
ing to remember where she could have put the 
other napkins. I may have left two at home.” 

Josie counted again very carefully. 

Twenty-two! I hope they aren’t lost. Any- 
how they aren’t lost here and that is some 
satisfaction for the Higgledy-Piggledies.” 

Another tap at the door and in came Bob 
Dulaney. 

May I came in? How jolly to find all of 
you here! ” He bowed to them all but looked 
at Irene when he said all of you.” And 
does the elevator work all right? I was mighty 
afraid Danny would slip up on the piece of 


Business Coming On 139 

work, but that fellow will tackle anything. He 
is a wonder for sure.’’ 

“ Yes, it works beautifully and I find it the 
greatest convenience. I am quite independent 
now and can come and go as I will.’^ 

How jolly it is up here! Aren^t you afraid 
at night. Miss 0/Gorman? ” asked Bob. 

‘‘Not a bit! There are too many persons 
tramping around overhead for me to be afraid, 
-but I wouldn’t be afraid anyhow. I guess 
nobody would want to hurt me. I haven’t any- 
thing to steal as yet. Of xjourse when we get 
in our rare editions that I am to sell on com- 
mission for a man in New York there will be 
something; also some antique jewelry and some 
bronzes. We may have a few small rugs soon 
too.” 

Josie turned her dull eyes on Hortense, who 
had stopped chatting with Elizabeth and was 
listening attentively to the above conversation. 

“ So you are going to open up your shop in 
good earnest, then? ” she asked. “ How delight- 
ful! It’s such an interesting venture. I do hope 
you will succeed.” 

“We are sure to if we keep on as well as we 
have begun,” said Josie, allowing herself the 


140 Mary Louise At Dor field 

satisfaction of a little twinkle in lier eye. 
Business is just rolling in.’^ 

How mucli will you charge a fellow if he 
wants to consult your books? ” asked Bob. 

There is no library worthy of the name in 
Dorfield and when I want something very badly 
I am up against it.’’ 

Persons are supposed to ask us for informa- 
tion and we do the searching,” explained Josie. 

But that wouldn’t suit me at all. I like to 
see for myself and one bit of information sug- 
gets the advisability of another, and so on. I 
could spend days with your various encyclopedias 
just on this one article I am getting up for the 
Sunday supplement. ’ ’ 

What is your article on? ” 

‘‘ Criminology! Gee, but I’d like to peek into 
that notebook of your father’s! ” sighed Bob, 
who took his profession of expert reporter and 
writer of special articles very seriously. 

Josie beckoned to Elizabeth and retiring to 
the back of the shop the girls held a short con- 
sultation. Coming forward, Josie said to Bob : 

My partner and I are going to make an ex- 
ception in your favor, feeling as we do very 
grateful to you and all of Danny Dexter’s friends 


Business Coming On 141 

for their kindness to ns in launching us so beau- 
tifully on our shop-keeping venture. We are 
going to let you come and consult our books 
whenever you feel like it. We’d rather not have 
them taken home unless it is something you find 
you can’t possibly finish up here in the shop.” 

But how splendid of you! I don’t deserve 
such a favor. I did nothing but lift bath tubs 
and things. I can’t accept such kindness, though, 
unless you let me pay regular rates for what 
information I pick up.” 

“ We are not so mercenary as all that,” said 
Josie, besides we may need your muscles some- 
times and would not know how to pay for them. 
Let ’s call it a draw — fifty-fifty. We might even 
leave you here sometimes to keep shop for us 
if you’ll be good.” 

‘‘ Good! I’d take in the fancy work especially 
well,” laughed Bob. I hate to seem greedy, 
but while I’m poking among your books may I 
peek in the wonderful notebook? ” 

Josie paused a moment, turning dull eyes on 
Mrs. Markle, who had been listening intently to 
the above conversation, although she seemed to 
be interested solely in the lace Irene was mend- 
ing. Her dark eyes were sparkling and her 


142 


Mary Louise At Dor field 

pretty grey suede shoe was nervously tapping 
the floor. None of this was lost on Josie. 

You mustn’t let me look in it if you really 
don’t want me to,” Bob continued. I know it 
is cheeky of me to ask it.” 

But I will let you,” declared Josie. I 
shouldn’t be so silly about the poor little book. 
You may take it home with you if you promise 
to take good care of it.” She took the little 
book from the shelves and handed it to Bob. 
‘‘ Keep it tied up carefully; don’t open it now. 
I wonder if you can decipher what is in it. I 
fancy it would be a tough job. Father wouldn’t 
mind, I am sure. He always liked newspaper 
chaps, as he called men of your profession, and 
used to get them to help him often on cases. He 
helped them too. He used to say they had 
much more sense about digging out crime and 
solving mysteries than the average detective. I 
tell you he handed over many a scoop to young 
reporters and got them started in their careers 
with fine feathers in their caps.” 

I can’t tell you how I thank you,” said Bob, 
taking the shabby little book reverently in his 
hand and putting it carefully in his breast 
pocket. ‘‘ I’ll guard it with my life. I won’t 


Business Coming On 143 

have time to look into it for a day or so, how- 
ever. And now 1^11 he going. I’ll come in day 
after to-morrow and get my work in with your 
learned hooks. I do thank yon girls more than 
I can say. I hope I can lift mountains for you 
sometime to show you how I appreciate your 
kindness.” 

He stopped a moment to have a little talk 
with Irene, whose sweet face flushed with pleas- 
ure when he asked her if he might call on her 
that very evening. It was nice to he treated just 
like other girls. 


CHAPTER Xiy 


ANOTHER CLUE 

Bob Dulaney had hardly left the shop before 
Hortense Markle burst out with the remark: 

Miss O’Gorman, how could you be so 
imprudent? ” 

Imprudent? I? You mean because I told 
Mr. Dulaney he might come keep shop for us? ” 
asked Josie, looking so stupid Hortense felt like 
slapping her. You don’t think that was 
proper? ” 

Proper! The idea! My dear girl, I only 
meant it was imprudent to let 'him go off with 
that valuable book of your father’s. I am sure 
we all feel an interest in you, and such a book 
as that is of untold value. Did you not say it 
contained notes he had kept almost from the 
beginning of his career and had descriptions of 
all the noted criminals, convicted and uncon- 
victed? ” 

Yes, it has,” answered Josie, putting on the 
air of a moron. Her tone was so dull and her 


144 


Another Clue 


145 


manner so stupid that Elizabeth and Irene, who 
well understood the keen intelligence of their 
partner, looking on in astonishment. What was 
she trying to do? 

Well, knowing that, don’t you think it was a 
little too trusting to let a strange young man 
simply walk off with that precious book in his 
pocket? He might keep on walking and never 
come back. Such a treasure as that would be of 
more value to a collector than I can tell you and 
Mr. Dulaney could realize more from the sale 
of such a book than he could make on his tup- 
penny articles for Sunday supplements in ten 
years’ time.” 

Irene’s eyes were flashing. At least now she 
had a reason for hating Hortense Markle. What 
a cruel suggestion! How could she harbor such 
a thought? Bob Dulaney with his frank open 
manner and kind, clear eyes, Bob Dulaney a pos- 
sible thief! Danny Dexter’s friend! Her friend 
too — she felt she could count him among her 
real friends. Could she sit there and let such 
an imputation go unchallenged? She looked at 
Josie in astonishment. Of course it was her 
business to combat such an unkind suggestion, 
but Josie was looking blank as a whitewashed 


146 Mary Louise At Dor field 

fence. Elizabeth, however, arose to the occasion 
with: s 

I fancy you are mistaken, Mrs. Markle. I 
am sure Mr. Dulaney is honor itself. I think he 
can be trusted with anything, no matter how 
valuable. I’d stake my life on it.” 

‘‘ And I, mine! ” spoke up Irene in a low clear 
voice. 

Ah, and so the handsome Goliath has cham- 
pions among the fair sex,” laughed Hortense. 
‘‘ Heavens, children, I had no idea of bringing 
down such a deluge of vituperation on my poor 
little head! I was merely interested in the little 
book, not on my own account but on my hus- 
band’s. Felix was so excited over your having 
such a book, my dear J osie. He has always been 
interested in codes and hieroglyphics. He was 
dying for me to ask you to lend it to him, but 
I utterly refused. No wonder I am a little 
peeved when you hand it calmly over to the first 
good looking young man who asks for it. Well, 
I must be going. Don’t hurry with the napkins 
and don’t bother to send them to me. I’ll call 
for them.” 

She tripped gaily from the shop, calling back 
from the door: 


Another Clue 


147 


Please don’t be cross with me for suggesting 
that poor Mr. Dulaney might be tempted by the 
marvelous little book. He is, to all appearances, 
a charming young man, but then after all we 
don’t really know him very well.” 

‘‘We know him as well as we know you,” was 
on the tip of Irene’s tongue, but she did not say 
it, only bowed her head stiffly when Hortenes 
included her in the beaming smile and wave of 
farewell. 

“ Eather catty, I call that,” said Elizabeth, 
when their charming visitor was well out of ear 
shot. “ What do you think she meant by sug- 
gesting such a horrid thing, Josie? ” 

Josie, who had lost her strange stupid look, 
laughed gaily at Elizabeth’s question. “ She 
didn’t mean anything at all, Elizabeth. She was 
put out because the nice, big boy didn’t pay her 
any attention. He was either talking business 
and books with you and me or he was leaning 
over Irene there making engagements. The beau- 
tiful Mrs. Markle must be the center of attrac- 
tion or she won’t play.” 

“ Oh ! ” and Irene blushed rosy red. This was 
indeed being like other girls if somebody was 
jealous of her. “ I can’t help thinking she had 


148 Mary Louise At Dorfield 

some other motive,’’ Irene whispered to Josie, 
when Elizabeth went back to her noisy copying 
of the flamboyant story. “ Of course, if such a 
charmer as Mrs. Markle wanted the attentions 
of a young man she could have them without 
lifting an eyelash.” 

I’m not so sure of that,” insisted Josie. 

Some men don’t fall for so much beauty of 
face. They are on the lookout for beauty ot 
soul. Wonderful damask napkins she left! Did 
you look at the embroidered initials? I hope I 
won’t scorch them. There is no telling what 
they are worth. Each one is big enough for a 
tablecloth.” 

They are wonderful,” said Irene. “ I never 
heard of anyone’s having napkins laundered 
before the initials were embroidered, but it no 
doubt is a good thing. Mrs. Markle certainly 
knows all about it. I have never imagined such 
perfect work.” She sighed and dropped the lace 
she was mending for a moment and picked up 
one of the napkins the closer to scrutinize the 
regular stitches. Her magnifying glass was in 
her lap and she gazed at the work through it. 

<< Why, Josie, come here! ” she cried in some 
excitement. “ This napkin has had a piece cut 


Another Clue 


149 


out and a patch put in — one of Mrs. Markle^s 
incomparable patches, but a patch for all that.’^ 
See if this one has too,’^ asked Josie, try- 
ing not to show the excitement that she too felt. 

Yes, this one and this one and this one — 
all of them! exclaimed Irene in a puzzled tone. 
‘‘ Look, she has matched each thread and then 
made an initial large enough to cover the patch 
almost entirely. I never saw such clever work 
in my life — but why? ” f 

Perhaps she did not like the initial she first 
put there and cut it out to put another,’’ sug- 
gested Josie, a twinkle asserting itself in her 
eyes that she seemed to be trying to make 
opaque. 

‘‘ The patches are not all the same size,” de- 
clared Irene, picking up napkin after napkin and 
examining them carefully through her glass. 

What can it mean, Josie? ” 

Well, I guess we can safely say we have 
found the other two napkins,” whispered Josie. 

They went to make the patches. Also someone 
besides Hortense did the cutting. Clever Hor- 
tense! Not clever enough, however, to get by 
with it! My father used to say that only the 
people who went to work taking for granted that 


150 Mary Jjomse At Dorfield 

others were cleverer than they kept out of the 
penitentiary. Hortense thinks I am a dullard 
and you a sweet person who has taken a dislike 
to her and not to be worried about one way or 
the other.” 

“ But what do you mean, Josie? Penitentiary 
— you can^t — ” 

‘‘ Yes, I can — but don’t tell Elizabeth — any- 
body in fact — we must catch the whole bunch 
and, if we jump too soon, we may get only an 
innocent bystander. I am going to call on you 
to help me if I need you.” 

What’s that you are not going to tell me? ” 
asked Elizabeth. This old typewriter makes 
just enough noise to keep me from catching 
secrets. Is it ice cream you are going to have 
up for lunch or are you going to make me pay 
the gas bill? Is it a pleasant secret or other- 
wise? ” 

Well, it may be both,” answered Josie. I 
wasn’t going to tell you because my father always 
said the more persons you took in on a case the 
harder it was to get at the bottom of it. He 
thought they kind of crowded each other when 
the business narrowed down to the final out- 


come. 


Another Clue 


151 


“ But I^m a partner here and if there is any- 
thing I might make use of in the way of copy in 
the literary career I hope to follow, I think it is 
mean not to tell me,’^ laughed Elizabeth. 

‘‘ I guess you are right, decided Josie. I 
may get help from you girls too. But mind not 
a word or look to a soul to let on you suspect 
a thing! Swear! 

We swear! chorused Irene and Elizabeth 
in hollow excited tones. 

Then Josie told them the whole thing from the 
beginning; told how she had had some suspicion 
of the Markles because of something intangibly 
mysterious about them; told of her visit to the 
chief of police and the information he had given 
her eonceming a chain of thefts being com- 
mitted all over the country; told of the mission 
she had had confided to her before she reached 
Dorfield; told how she had been confident of 
something being a bit fishy in Hortense^s not 
being wiUmg to take otf the orchid pin and show 
it to Billy McGraw, for the reason that it had the 
TifiFany mark on it, no doubt the initials of his 
friend Mrs. Thomas. Then she made their blood 
run cold when she described her first night in 
the Higgledy-Piggledy Shop and the entrance 


152 Mary Louise At Dor field 

of the Markles and their theft of the contents of 
the book. 

But, Josie, weren^t you scared to death? 
asked Irene, her eyes big at the thought. ‘‘ 1 
am not a timid person ordinarily, but I believe 
I’d have died of fright when they came into the 
bedroom. ’ ’ 

'' Well, I was a bit shaky, I must confess. 
Persons like the Markles don’t like to kill be- 
cause it is a low form of wit, but they will do it 
just as a great humorist will occasionally pun 
if he can’t get his joke over vdthout it. I was 
determined to be the first to fire if there was any 
firing to be done.” 

There was nothing dull looking about Josie 
as she told her story to her two friends and con- 
federates. Had Hortense seen her then, no 
doubt she would have changed her tactics in 
dealing with the daughter of the famous detec- 
tive. 

“ And now,” said Josie, in conclusion, as 
the preachers say, we must be ever watchful and 
never let on to a soul, man or beast, that we have 
any suspicion of the Markles. AVhat we know 
of them is not enough yet to convict them and 
by waiting, watchful waiting, we may be able to 


Another Clue 153 

unearth the whole plot and bring a whole gang 
to justice.’’ 

It is a little hard on Mr. Dulaney to let him 
take oil the notebook full of blanks,” suggested 
Irene, a faint flush appearing on her cheeks. 

Yes, I know it is,” agreed Josie, and I 
would not have done it except I wanted to see 
what Hortense would look like when I allowed 
him to have the precious book. Her face was 
a study. She has humor enough, I rather like 
her for that, and there was an amused twinkle 
in her eyes, relief also when I told the young 
man not to untie it just then. I fancy there are 
times when anyone with such a speaking coun- 
tenance as the Markle has a hard time to appear 
indifferent. Her suggestions concerning Mr. 
Dulaney were very slick. Of course if I had not 
known all the time the book was full of blanks, 
I would naturally be inclined to hold Mr. Du- 
laney responsible for such a state of affairs.” 

Yes, that is what I am afraid of,” said 
Irene, “ afraid he may be horribly embarrassed 
about it when he discovers the hoax.” 

‘‘ There is danger of that, but I’ll do my best 
to make it up to him,” answered Josie. Of 
course he’ll get the scoop of his lifetime when 


154 


Mary Louise At Dor field 

we finally nab the wretches. Such a scoop will 
more than repay him for a temporary embar- 
rassment. 

Are you keeping Chief Lonsdale informed 
of what you are finding out? ’’ asked Elizabeth, 
who ^ was beginning to feel that plots were hers 
for the asking in the stories she meant to write. 

‘‘Not on your life! He’d have a bunch of 
bungling blue-coats snooping around scaring off 
the game and taking all the final credit. No 
sireel This is my party. Chief Lonsdale can 
put as many men as he’s a mind to work dig- 
ging up evidence, but I bide my time and go 
it alone. I don’t see any of the detectives help- 
' ing me any. Now I’m going to finish up this 
lace before I give up for the day and deliver it 
'to the rich old lady. I saw Mrs. Markle looking 
at it with a practiced and covetous eye. These 
people get to be regular kleptomaniacs when 
they stay in the business long enough. She may 
be bad^ here at midnight and lift the whole 
shop. ’ ’ 

“ Leave the key in the door so they can’t get 
the skeleton key in from the outside,” suggested 
Irene. 

“Mereiceys and doors don’t worry such as 


Another Clue 


155 


the Felix Markles. They are so clever with 
burglar tools there is no keeping them out if 
they want to get in. Of course, if we lock fast 
the door there is still the * dumb-elevator ' as 
Danny calls it. Bar that fast, or cut the cables 
and they will manage to come down from the 
floor above. The thing to do is leave nothing 
here they want and let them know as much. I 
wish you would drop in and make a short call 
at their apartment, Elizabeth, and tell Hortense 
I am taking back the lace this evening. I must 
say I’ll sleep better if she knows it is out of my 
keeping. ’ ’ 

‘‘I’ll do that very thing. Now aren’t you 
glad you took me in your confidence? ” 

“ I wanted to all along but was trying to fol- 
low Father’s plans in going it alone as much as 
possible.” 

“I’d like to see the Markles’ faces when they 
finally decipher the notes and read ‘ The Hound 
of Heaven,’ ” said Irene. “ What else was in 
the notes? ” 

“ Oh, long stanzas from ‘ Paradise Lost,’ 

‘ Hamlet’s Soliloquy,’ and pages from ‘ Les 
Miserables ’ in French. I don’t speak French at 
all but I can read it quite well and Father wanted 


156 Mary Louise At Dorfield 

me to be able to take notes in it, as sometimes we 
have to work with French detectives and he 
thought it might be useful. Anyhow it was 
good practice. I copied a lot about the convicts 
and a chapter on-argot. They will have a grand 
time reading it if they ever master the key. It 
is almost cruel for me to fool them so when 
they might spend their time to so much better 
advantage. ’ ^ 


CHAPTER XV 


SIMPKINS & MARKLE 

Hortense Markle had besought the friends of 
Mary Louise to come and call on her, but when 
Elizabeth Wright was ushered into the charm- 
ing little drawing room bent on the mission in- 
trusted to her by her partner, she had a feeling 
that she was not quite so welcome as she had 
been led to expect. Could it be because she 
interrupted a tete-a-tete between her hostess and 
Billy McGraw? That young man seemed to be 
very much at home in the little apartment, as 
though he had paid many visits there in the 
short time he had been acquainted with the 
charming Mrs. Markle. 

Elizabeth was a little embarrassed but deter- 
mined to fulfill her mission before she left. She 
liked Billy and hated to see him making a fool 
of himself over the pretty adventuress. She 
wished she could save him from the bitter 
chagrin that would be sure to be his when the 
sorry business would finally come to light, but 
157 


158 Mary Louise At Dor field 

her loyalty to Josie forbade her doing or saying 
a thing to pnt him on his guard. Then he had 
paid her just enough attention to mahe it possi- 
ble for him to think that jealousy prompted her 
in anything she might do or say. 

We have been very busy at the shop to-day,’’ 
Elizabeth began, in a rather loud tone as though 
determined that her voice would be heard by 
Hortense and her husband too, if he had con- 
cealed himself somewhere behind the curtains. 

Irene finished mending the lace and then Josie 
laundered the whole lot and I have just delivered 
it to its owner.” 

Ah, indeed! ” ejaculated Hortense. 

Was there a note of disappointment in her 
voice ? 

I rather wanted to see that lace again. It 
was a beautiful pattern. I have a passion for 
fine and rare lace.” 

Well, it’s safe with the rich old lady who 
brought it to us,” said Elizabeth, bluntly. 

‘‘You are quite wise to get it in safe keeping 
as soon as possible,” said Hortense, suavely. 

“ By the way, you never have let me see the 
orchid pin,” put in Billy. “You remember you 
promised. ’ ’ 


Simpkins & Markle 


159 


Why, of course! I’ll get it immediately.” 

She was gone from the room for a few 
moments. Elizabeth, who usually was very much 
at home with Billy MoGrraw, now sat in silence. 
For the moment she had nothing to say. He 
looked at her a little uneasily. 

‘ ^ Are you — are you — kind of angry with 
me? ” he finally said. 

‘‘I? The idea! Why should I he angry with 
you? ” 

I don’t know. You don’t seem so — so — 
chummy as you do sometimes.” 

Chummy? I did not know I had been quite 
that,” she said with a touch of coldness that 
she could not keep from her tones. 

Now I know you have got it in for me 
somehow. ’ ’ 

Elizabeth said nothing as Hortense came back 
in the room with the orchid pin which she 
handed to Billy. 

‘‘ My, it’s a peach! ” he declared. He ex- 
amined it with great interest. ‘‘It is as near 
like Vi Thomas’ as can be. Hers, of course, 
had Tiffany’s mark on the back and a date, as 
I remember, some date that meant something 
to her and her husband. 


160 Mary Louise At Dor field 

Mine just has the name Felix loves to call 
me, ‘ Pet.’ It sounds awfully silly and senti- 
mental, hut he would have it on.” 

Can’t I see it? ” asked Elizabeth, wishing 
in her heart she had a magnifying glass handy, 
feeling sure there would be marks of other things 
to be disclosed. She noticed that the gold mount- 
ing back of the pin was slightly concave. No 
doubt Josie will attach much importance to 
that,” she said to herself. 

‘‘ You promised some day to show me your 
original Rembrandt etching,” she said to Hor- 
tense. I have never seen one.” 

Have you an original Rembrandt? ” asked 
Billy. ‘‘You never told me. I’d certainly like 
to see it. The Thomases had a crackerjack of a 
Rembrandt. Of course that was lifted too when 
the orchid pin was.” 

“ Heavens! what luck. Those Thomases seem 
to be perfect Jonahs,” laughed Hortense. Eliza- 
beth thought she detected a little sharp note in 
her laugh. 

“ I am terribly sorry not to show you my 
treasure of treasures, but the frame was pulling 
loose a bit and Felix has taken it to have it 
mended. Anything as precious as a Rembrandt 


Simpkins d Markle 


161 


must be framed in an airtight frame. Felix 
has been otfered a huge sum for our Rembrandt 
and I am trembling for fear he might sell it. 
Of course, I know that persons of our means 
have no business owning such a rare etching but 
I would so hate to part with it. Felix is some- 
thing of a speculator in such things, while I 
have more the soul of the born collector.’’ 

“ I should think you would live in continual 
fear of having your things snatched from you,” 
said Elizabeth, wondering at her own cruelty in 
making such a remark. 

I do,” said Hortense, sadly. Why, Felix 
is so keen on a trade that I shouldn’t be aston- 
ished if he wanted sometime to sell my lovely 
orchid pin.” 

Ah, but the ^ Pet ’ engraved on the back 
would keep him from doing that,” suggested 
Billy, thinking what a mercenary brute the 
husband must be. 

Oh, but that could be taken off,” said Eliza- 
beth with an air of childlike innocence. We 
had some marks taken o:ff some silver one time. 
It was the initials of a person who had married 
into my father’s family and had her initials put 
on an old family tea service. She had no right 


r 

162 Mary Louise At Dorfield 

to the service and the service was ruined in our 
eyes by the addition of her initials. Of course, 
it meant some of the thickness of the silver had 
to be sacrificed to get rid of the engraving and 
there is almost a concavity where there used to 
be a convexity, but we prefer that to the initials 
of the interloper.” 

Oh, please don’t tell my husband such a 
thing could be done,” was Hortense’s playful 
rejoinder. He would surely get some of the 
eraser and take olf the ‘ Pet.’ Of course, this 
little pin is very valuable as a work of art and 
I shouldn’t object if we get really hard up. I 
have never been an unreasonable wife, and we 
have had our ups and downs.” 

You might write to your friend Mr. 
Thomas,” Elizabeth suggested to Billy, and 
tell him there is a chance for him to buy the 
duplicate of the pin his wife lost.” Elizabeth well 
understood she was teasing Mrs. Markle, but 
could not resist doing it, feeling assured that she 
was supposed to be unconscious of so doing. 

Don’t do it! Please don’t do it! ” begged 
Hortense, plainly alarmed. If this Mr. Thomas 
hears of this pin he might make a bid for it and 
Felix is almost sure to take him up, although it 


Simpkins S Markle 


163 


does belong to me. I conldn^t bear to part with 
my beautiful pin. It has such wonderful asso- 
ciations. You see, Felix gave it to me in our 
early married life when everything was quite 
different.’^ This, of course, was for Billy’s 
benefit and he looked sad and promised he 
would not write to his friend. 

Hortense looked daggers at Elizabeth, who 
began to feel that she was regarded as being a 
bit catty, the expression that she had so recently 
used to describe Hortense. 

‘‘No doubt I am,” Elizabeth said to herself, 
“ but I couldn’t resist it.” Aloud, she remarked 
that she must be going. Mrs. Markle did not 
urge her to remain. She found this girl Eliza- 
beth a little too inclined to suggest unpleasant 
things. She was on tlie whole rather relieved 
when Billy McGraw oifered to take Elizabeth 
home in his car. She wanted to get rid of both 
callers and to see Felix alone and report to him 
that things were getting a trifle warm. 

“ I am afraid my clever puss has been talking 
too much,” suggested Mr. Markle, when his wife 
told him of her having been asked to exhibit the 
Eembrandt. 

“ Oh, I can’t think it. You see, one must be 


164 Mary Louise At Dor field 

natural and what more natural than to say one 
has a Eembrandt if it is the case? 

That’s so! We may he moving on soon, 
Pet. Simpkins & Markle had a fine offer to-day 
for a furnished apartment, and no questions 
asked. This would he the very one and we could 
take with us all the doubtful things and still 
leave a costly enough place.” 

Not before the wedding, surely! ” she 
exclaimed. 

Well, hardly, when my wife is to be matron 
of honor! We will be here several months 
longer. What is the date fixed? ” 

June the twelfth! Must I give out that 
there is a chance of our moving? ” 

Not yet, but when you do, of course you 
must be the abused young wife with the peculiar 
and mercenary husband. That is a great stunt 
of yours. I heard what you were saying to that 
young ass of a McGraw.” 

Not jealous, are you? ” she asked coyly. 

Not a bit! Just more in love with you than 
ever. I don’t know what I’d do without such a 
clever wife and such a stupid business partner. 
Simpkins is duller than ever. He accepts every- 
thing on its face value in the firm and assists me 


Simpkins & Markle 


16& 


in operating the business with never an idea in 
his numskull that he is not conducting a per- 
fectly legitimate thing. Of course, we have a 
lot of simple deals on that any real estate firm 
might have and then we have this out of town 
rental list that I attend to as much as possible. 
Sometimes, though, it is up to him and he accepts 
it with perfectly good grace. Specializing as we 
do in elegantly furnished apartments brings in 
a class of clients with whom he is unfamiliar and 
they seem in a measure to overawe him into 
extra stupidity.’’ 

Dorfield and the neighboring towns were suf- 
fering from the after war congested conditions 
quite as much as were the large cities. New 
industries had sprung into existence, bringing 
many strangers to settle in the towns. Building 
was high and the cost of materials was increas- 
ing every day. That was forcing up the price 
of real estate and quite ordinary little apart- 
ments were renting for fabulous sums. When 
those apartments were furnished the supposed 
value was doubled. And when they were fur- 
nished elegantly the agents could go as far as 
they liked in their demands upon the tenants. 

Simpkins & Markle were doing a flourishing 


166 


Mary Louise At Dor field 

business, specializing in small, elegantly fur- 
nished apartments. They had branch offices in 
all the neighboring towns, Mr. Markle being the 
traveling member who kept in touch with the 
branch offices. 

These apartments were always let with the 
greatest care as to the form of lease. The empty 
apartment would be rented to a young couple 
who would sign the lease and pay a month ^s 
rent in advance. Then their household goods 
would arrive from some distant state and be 
installed. Rugs, pictures, beautiful furniture of 
all kinds, silver, china, table linen, etc. The 
couple would live in the apartment for about a 
month and then the young husband would report 
at the real estate office that he had a raise, a 
new job, a sick mother, or something and wanted 
to sub-let his apartment, furnished. Of course, 
the beautiful furnishings would double and 
sometimes triple the value of the rooms and 
Simpkins & Markle would reap a reward. Simp- 
kins would never be called upon to interview this 
couple and would therefore never be struck with 
its likeness to the couple before. He seemed 
merely to see that the firm was doing well and 
their kind of business was a lucrative one. He 


Simpkins d Markle 


167 


staid in Dorfield and kept tlie books and at- 
tended to tbe old Dorfield business, wbich was 
slow but steady, while his more active partner 
attended to the furnished apartment rentals. 
His was the duty to pass on to the distant young 
couple the profits reaped by their contract in 
sub-ranting. 

The unerring taste of Hortense was often 
called in play to arrange the furniture in these 
apartments. She could put a touch to them that 
would add greatly to their value. Strangers, 
warned beforehand of the difficulty of finding 
any place to live and almost hopeless of obtain- 
ing even a roof over their heads, would be car- 
ried off their feet when shown these beautiful 
rooms whe^e Hortense had had her artistic will. 
No price seemed too high for such a haven of 
rest and beauty. 

There can be little doubt in the minds of my 
readers where this furniture came from. A 
chain of burglars reaching from New York to 
San Francisco were ever busy robbing any and 
every house where they could make an entrance. 
Then the spoils were carefully sorted and shifted 
to far away points where detection was not 
likely. Felix and Hortense Markle were head 


168 Mary Louise At Bor field 

and brains for this bold undertaking. They 
worked under many aliases and sometimes ap- 
peared as father and daughter, sometimes 
brother and sister, somtimes they worked singly, 
but usually they were husband and wife. They 
were clever beyond the belief of ordinary mor- 
tals, so clever that their existence was doubted 
by some of the most astute and highly esteemed 
detectives. 0 ^Gorman had been on their track 
and was in a fair way to come up with them 
when the war broke out and he was compelled 
to serve his country in other ways besides bring- 
ing to justice a pair of the cleverest thieves he 
confessed ‘himself ev^r to have seen. He had 
talked to Josie of his ambition and had given her 
what information he possessed. This form of 
real estate hoax was a new one with the Markles, 
but their method was the one they had always 
used, that of living in a respectable and decent 
way and making friends with the best people in 
the town where they hoped to get the most loot. 

Sleepy Dortield was a good place for their 
machinations. There was a good deal of wealth 
in town and the friendship of Mary Louise and 
her grandfather was “ open sesame ’’ to the 
society of Dorfield. 


V 


CHAPTER XVI 

A DINNER PARTY 

There was some excitement in the Wright 
family when Elizabeth came speeding home in 
Billy McGraw^s stylish little racer. They had 
grown accustomed if not resigned to the pecul- 
iarities of this member of the family who in- 
sisted upon working all day in a funny shop with 
an unstylish little person, the daughter of a 
policeman so they understood. Her only value 
in their eyes was that she was a friend of Mary 
Louise ^s. As has been remarked before, that 
fact went a long way in the opinion of Dorfield 
towards establishing a person as worthy of being 
cultivated. 

Another thing that was reconciling the Wright 
family somewhat to Elizabeth's erratic mode of 
life was that she had begun to put money in the 
bank. This they were sure of, as one of the 
sisters had had a peep in her bank book. The 
shop was proving a financial success and in the 
169 


170 


Mary Loidse At Dor field 

eyes of one^s family nothing succeeds like 
monetary success. 

And here was Elizabeth driving up in style in 
the car of the young man conceded by all Dor- 
Aeld mothers and daughters to be the most desir- 
able catch in town. Next to catching him them- 
selves the sisters of Elizabeth would have liked 
to have her catch him. The mother was perfectly 
impartial as to which member of her family 
should land such a large game fish. 

I don’t believe she even asked him in,” 
declared Gertrude, peeping out the window. 

I am sure she didn’t,” agreed Annabel. ‘‘ I 
know he would have come in if she had asked him. 
Elizabeth doesn’t know how to handle men at 
all.” 

‘‘ No, she is simply .foolish the way she goes 
to work,” said Pauline. No man likes to be 
cut so short. She just gave him a little nod and 
came on in before he had even got back in his 
car and started his engine. She’ll never win 
out with such indifference.” 

‘‘ I don’t know about that,” put in Margaret, 
who loved to take the opposite view, sometimes 
the grand independent way is quite taking, espe- 
cially with a man like Billy McGraw, who has 


171 


A Dinner Party 

been spoiled to death. How did you happen to 
get a lift? ’’ This to Elizabeth, who had just 
entered the room. 

I met Billy at Mrs. Markle’s and he asked 
to bring me home, as he was coming this way,’^ 
said Elizabeth with as much sangfroid as she 
could muster. 

I think I shall have the Markles and Mr. 
McGraw to dinner soon,’^ said Mrs. Wright, 
who had listened with half an ear to the con- 
versation of her daughters. I have meant to 
entertain them for some time and since they 
are such friends of Billy McGraw ’s it would be 
agreeable to have them all come together.’^ 

‘‘ I wouldn’t,’’ faltered Elizabeth. ‘‘ You are 
not called on to entertain them.” 

“ I fancy I am the best judge of that,” said 
her mother sharply. I should like to know 
since when it has been necessary for one of my 
daughters to dictate to me when I should and 
should not entertain in my own house. You 
say you have been calling at Mrs. Markle’s and 
it seems quite fitting then that I should call on 
her and invite her to dinner.” 

Don’t you like Mrs. Markle? ” asked Mar- 
garet curiously, noting with amusement that 


172 Mary Louise At Bor field 

Elizabeth had flushed painfully under her 
mother’s tirade. Mrs. Wright’s tirades were 
not usually looked upon very seriously by her 
daughters. 

“ Why, I never thought much about it,” said 
Elizabeth evasively. 

I fancy she is some beau grabber,” sug- 
gested Pauline. 

Why did you call on her if you didn’t like 
her? ” asked Gertrude. 

‘‘Heavens above I” ejaculated Elizabeth. 
“ Perhaps I had some business to attend to — 
or perhaps I didn’t,” remembering suddenly that 
her business with Mrs. Markle was of a delicate 
nature and not to be mentioned outside of the 
bosom of the Higgledy-Piggledy. 

“ What business? ” insisted Gertrude. 

“ The kind one gets rich attending to, my 
ovm,” said Elizabeth. She knew she was rude, 
but why couldn’t her family let her alone? She 
had worked hard all day typing the novel for 
the would-be author; writing an obituary notice 
for a bereaved gentleman who had just lost his 
fourth wife; and polishing up a paper for an 
aspiring leader of a literary club. She was tired 
now and would have liked to go to *her room 


173 


A Dinner Party 

and be quiet for a few moments. How different 
life was at tbe shop ! There everybody was busy 
and nobody had time to be poking her nose in 
everybody's business. 

‘‘ I fancy your business was running after 
Billy McGraw, ’ ^ continued Gertrude. Since rude- 
ness was the order of the day, she was fully 
capable ' of doing her share to keep the ball 
rolling. 

Elizabeth's inclination was to answer with in- 
creased acrimony but she thought better of it 
and merely left the room, even refraining from 
slamming the door, which was always a good 
way to get the last word in an argument in the 
Wright household. 

<< Why, why, can’t they let me alone? ” she 
asked herself when she got to the room which 
she shared with Margaret. She vaguely wished 
she had kept her temper and not been so quick 
to take it for granted that her sisters were 
interfering. 

They are so idle is the reason they ask so 
many questions, I am sure,” she argued with 
herself. I should feel sorry for them because 
they don’t know what fun it is to be busy. I’m 
going to try to be nicer and bring home some- 


174 Mary Louise At Dor field 

thing in the way of news that will be helpful to 
them instead of flying off the handle the way I 
did. I do wish though that Mother wouldn’t 
entertain the Markles. Of course, she is doing 
it to encourage Billy McGraw. Mother’s meth- 
ods are too apparent for him who runs not to 
read. Only suppose the Markles come and find 
things here they want.” Here Elizabeth had to 
giggle a bit to herself. ‘ ‘ They might go off with 
Father’s first editions and the great-grandfather 
forks, to say nothing of the silver slop basin in 
which George Washington is supposed to have 
drunk his toddy. What am I to do? I shouldn’t 
let Mother entertain such persons, but there is 
no stopping her short of divulging my real 
reason for not having them and that would be 
queering Josie’s game. Well, maybe it will teach 
Mother a lesson. Of course if anything does 
happen they will blame me for being the one to 
introduce them to such persons.’^ 

The outcome was that the Wrights did enter- 
tain the Markles and Billy McGraw on the same 
evening, although Elizabeth put in one more 
earnest protest which had no more effect than 
to raise the ire of her mother and sisters, who 
declared she was a dog in the manger. Evidently 


175 


A Dinner Party 

she did not want Billy McGraw herself, but she 
didn’t want any of her sisters to have him. 

He is taken with you, anyone can see with 
half an eye,” declared Gertrude. But you treat 
him just as though he were any ordinary young 
man — ” 

Isn’t he? ” asked Elizabeth. 

Pooh! You know he is a cut above the 
others with all that money.” 

The dinner party proved a success in spite of 
Elizabeth’s embarrassment. The poor girl felt 
that the evening would never end. The Wrights 
knew how to entertain and nobody in Borfield 
could give a better dinner than Mrs. Wright; 
the daughters were handsome and could be agree- 
able ; Mr. and Mrs. Markle had a social gift and 
easy manners that insured a light, pleasant con- 
versation wherever they were invited. 

Elizabeth almost had hysterics when she saw 
her father leading Mr. Markle into his sanctum 
sanctorum to show him his rare first editions, 
his autographed copies, etc. Mrs. Markle was 
delighted with the Boydell plates from Shakes- 
peare and the portfolio of Hogarth’s drawings 
handed down from an ancestor, who also col- 
lected. 


176 


Mary Louise At Dor field 

And this is the silver service you spoke of/’ 
she said to Elizabeth. See, Felix, this old 
service was marked and Mrs. Wright had the 
initials removed. Isn’t that Wonderful! ” she 
said naively to her husband. ‘‘ I wonder how 
they do it. It is a wonderful piece of silver. 
Only feel how heavy! And look at those brass 
candlesticks! Heavens, Mrs. Wright! Those 
candlesticks are worth more than their weight in 
gold. They are of a rare and wonderful design. 
Surely you don’t go oE to the beach and leave 
such treasures unprotected! ” 

Oh, yes,” said Mrs. Wright, delighted that 
her guest was so appreciative of the heirlooms. 
^MVe have never had any burglaries in Dor- 
field, at least none for years to amount to any- 
thing. Of course, as a rule, we take the silver 
with us.” 

Oh, of course,” said Hortense, and Eliza- 
beth listened for the disappointed note she felt 
was surely in her voice. 

We either take it with us or hide it some- 
where in the house,” continued Mrs. Wright. 

This heavy service I usually hide in first one 
place and then another. Sometimes I hide 
things so well I can’t find them myself. The 


177 


A Dinner Party 

tops of wardrobes are famous places. Nobody 
ever thinks of looking for things there.’’ 

Of course, nobody would,” commented Hor- 
tense. 

‘‘ I am to begin tomorrow to pack up for the 
summer,” went on Mrs. Wright, rather pleased 
that this young woman was so attentive. You 
see, we are to go to the lake just as soon as Mary 
Louise’s wedding is over. That is quite soon 
now. To-morrow I send the servants out to the 
lake house to get it ready for us. It makes it 
rather inconvenient for us, but it is only for a 
few days and then it is nice when we get there 
to have everything in such perfect order.” 

‘‘ All of you will go to the wedding? ” asked 
Hortense. 

Oh, yes, Mary Louise has invited the entire 
family. It was no less than she could do since 
Elizabeth is one of the bridesmaids. Mr. Wright 
is not inclined to accept invitations, but we have 
persuaded him to go to this wedding, since it is 
really the event of the year. Of course, the girls 
and I would not miss it for anything.” 

Elizabeth was glad when the evening was over. 
It embarrassed her to see the way in which her 
mother and sisters made up to Billy McGraw 


178 Mary Louise At Dorfield 

and the warmer their manners became the colder 
grew her own towards that young man, who 
could not understand what he had done to merit 
her disapproval. The more distant she became 
the closer he tried to come. He forgot to look 
at the beautiful Mrs. Markle in his endeavor to 
make Elizabeth smile on him. 


CHAPTER XVII 


AN'OTHER VISIT TO THE CHIEF 

Felix Markle was at the very top of his pro- 
fession. A man of rare culture and natural 
refinement and of indomitable will and courage, 
he might have made a name for himself in any 
walk of life he had chosen to follow. It was a 
pity that so much that was fine in him should 
have gone to make a master thief instead of the 
noble leader he might have been. 

The possession of Detective 0 ^Gorman’s note- 
book was of the greatest importance to him. 
The deciphering of it would tell exactly how 
much the secret service knew concerning him 
and his accomplices. How much was known con- 
cerning his aliases and if his wife was suspected 
or had been at any time. 

He was determined to protect her at any cost, 
but everything was going so well he could see 
no reason to doubt that they could go on with 
their clever schemes indefinitely. Every now 
and then one of the supposed owners of the 

179 


180 Mary Louise At Dor field 

elegantly furnished apartments determined to 
have a sale and then large sums would be real- 
ized on the stolen treasures. The firm of Simp- 
kins & Markle would handle the sale, taking out 
their commission and Markle would have the 
part of seeing that the fictitious owners got their 
share of the profits. All transactions appeared 
on the books of the real estate firm and any 
expert examiner of those books would have pro- 
nounced everything to be in perfect form and 
order. 

Josie O’Gorman had hoped to keep up with 
the case unaided by mere man, but things were 
getting too much for her. She began to lose 
sleep going over and over how best she could 
trap the persons of whose dishonesty she was 
assured. Her idea was not to spring the trap 
too soon for fear she might lose some of the 
principal offenders. After many sleepless nights, 
she determined to take Chief Charley Lonsdale 
into her confidence and ask for his support. 

On this visit she found the man at the door 
awake and taking notice. 

‘‘ You can’t see the chief,” he announced de- 
cisively, looking at Josie as though she were 
thin air. ‘‘ He’s that busy he says he can’t see 


181 


Another Visit to the Chief 

a soul. If you are after making a complaint 
about a neighbor’s bins or the like, there’s a 
man at the desk for such business.” 

Josie’s eyes took on the dull look she loved to 
assume when there was important business on 
hand. 

‘‘It’s worse than hens — it’s tigers!” she 
exclaimed. “ A man at the desk can’t attend to 
tigers. I must see the chief.” 

The astonished man let her pass. Of course 
tigers were a little too important for a small man 
like the one at the desk to cope with. 

The chief was alone and busy looking over 
some papers. A worried frown was on his 
brow. He looked up a moment after Josie 
entered. 

“ Ah, the little O’Gorman! Nothing doing, I 
fancy, and you have come for help.” 

“ I have come for help but not because there 
is nothing doing. I could handle that situation 
alone,” replied Josie in a cool drawl that was 
ludicrously like the tone her father had used 
and it made Chief Lonsdale smile. “ There is 
so much doing that I have had to come for help. 
I hate to do it, as I^d like the glory along with 
the work, but I can’t let the whole school of fish 


182 Mary Louise At Dorfield 

escape just so I can have the honor of landing 
the biggest one of the lot. Father used to say 
that a detective must first consider his duty to 
society; that is, to get the wrong-doers caught, 
never mind who does the catching.’^ 

^ ‘ Humph ! I wish there were more of his way 
of thinking. Now tell us all about it.^’ 

Josie sat down and unfolded her tale from the 
beginning. She made the man^s eyes wide with 
astonishment when she told of the Markles’ en- 
trance into her shop and the purloining of the 
notebook. He laughed delightedly over what 
Markle was spending so much time trying to 
master. 

The Hound of Heaven! ’’ he cried. ‘‘ That 
sounds like good stuff. And who is this young 
newspaper chap who has drawn the blank? Does 
he know it yet? ’’ 

He has been very busy and has not yet 
opened the book,’’ explained Josie. ‘‘ I have 
seen him once and he tells me he has it in his 
breast pocket and is waiting for an evening off 
when he intends to untie the hard knot of the 
ribbon and then try to unravel the cipher. I 
was sorry not to put him on to the fake, but I 
felt I had better not take anyone else into our 


183 


Another Visit to the Chief 

confidence just yet. I’ll set liis mind at rest 
when he finds it out, because, of course, he will 
feel responsible for it. I am rather hoping Mrs. 
Markle will be around when he lets me know 
about it. I like to study her. She is a deep one, 
for sure. 

Of course,” she continued, up to this time 
we have nothing to go upon but suspicion, except 
that they came in and' purloined the notebook. 
The fact that Mr. McGraw’s friends in New 
York lost an enamel pin and all their etchings 
and rugs, etc., and that Mrs. Markle has a pin 
like the one lost is no proof, but link by link the 
chain is being forged and, in my own mind, I am 
sure of them. Of course, I overheard their talk 
when they were in my shop, and that is enough 
to settle the matter for me, but it wouldn’t 
amount to much as evidence. Not even the fact 
that former initials had been cut out of the nap- 
kins would count for much.” 

‘‘ Well, now, what do you advise! ” asked the 
chief, quite humbly. This girl’s level-headed 
ingenuity amazed him. 

I advise a very circumspect supervision of 
the real estate firm of Simpkins & Markle first,” 
said Josie. ‘‘ If by hook or crook one could get 


184 


Mary Louise At Dor field 

hold of their books and see where they have 
done business lately. Do you know Simpkins? 

Yes, went to school with^him — a man of no 
imagination and perfect honesty — dull though 
— dull.’^ 

Any means? 

‘ ‘ Doing well — very well — so I am told, 
especially since he has gone into partnership 
with this Markle.’’ 

You see, if we could get some idea of where 
their business is located we could spread nets all 
around and catch the whole bunch of confeder- 
ates. Have you someone you can trust not to 
bungle? ’’ Josie looked so solemn and so young 
the chief had to smile behind his papers. 

Perhaps! and then the man and the girl 
put their heads together and step by step traced 
out their strategic plans. 

I hope the ax won’t drop until after Mary 
Louise is married and off on her wedding trip,” 
sighed Josie. Poor Mary Louise is always 
getting mixed up in other persons’ villainies.” 

Yes, if we could only warn her of the perfidy 
of this new friend. Don’t you think vre might? ” 
asked the chief, who was as fond of Mary Louise 
as though she had been his own daughter. 


Another Visit to the Chief ' 185 

Never! In the first place, she wouldn’t be- 
lieve any tales about her dear Hortense, and in 
the second, she would queer our game by trying 
to get her off if she was convinced of her being 
a criminal. Mary Louise is not of the stern stuff 
that you and I are made of,. Chief.” 

Well, I only hope they won’t be trying any 
of their monkey tricks at her wedding,” laughed 
the man. ‘‘ But they would hardly do that. 
Anyhow, we must be prepared and, of course, our 
object is to catch them redhanded. I may have 
to send to New York for assistance, but I 
promise you that no matter what help I get, you 
are the boss of this job.” 

I wish I had been born triplets,” sighed 
Josie. I’d like to run on to New York and 
have a personal interview with this friend of 
Billy McGraw’s named Thomas who had his 
stuff all lifted — as it is, I think you had better 
put some man on the job who can fix it up with 
him to be in Borfield in the next few days, or 
immediately after the wedding, so he can identify 
his goods. I have an idea most of his things are 
right here in the Markle apartment. Of course, 
he must not let on to McGraw that he is coming 
or he will queer the whole thing by mentioning 


186 Mary Louise At Dor field 

to Hortense Markle that he is expecting his 
friend and she will see to it that all traces are 
removed. She is slick as slick can he and has 
that young fellow guessing, not that he is in love 
with her, but just fascinated by her big eyes and 
her confiding girlish manner. My opinion is that 
she is madly in love with that scamp of a hus- 
band but she leads these rich young men on just 
to fieece them.’^ 

‘‘Yes, I know the type,’^ put in the chief. 

The young girl and the old man were agreed 
that they would try to hold off until after their 
dear Mary Louise was married and started on 
her wedding trip, then they would close in around 
the Markles and their confederates and have the. 
matter all settled before Danny and his bride 
should return from their honeymoon. 

“ Nothing must come up to cloud the girPs 
happiness,” said Josie, and the chief said: 
“ Amen I ” 


CHAPTER XVin 


BOB DULANEY RETURNS THE NOTEBOOK 

The next day the shop was doing a thriving 
business. Josie was busily engaged in hunting 
up information concerning the best method to 
pursue when contemplating taking a donkey 
trip through Spain for a middle aged lady who 
had saved money for the venture and was deter- 
mined to have the trip in spite of discouraging 
friends; Elizabeth was touching up a club paper 
on extra foraneous ornamentation; and Irene, 
who had been sent for in a hurry to do some 
smocking, had just wheeled herself from the 
dumb-waiter, produced her thimble and gone to 
work. 

Hortense Markle came into the shop looking, 
as usual, fresh as the dawn and her eyes spar- 
kling like dew drops. Josie looked at her almost 
pityingly. It seemed so sad to her that anyone 
who looked so charming could be so wicked. 

I have brought some trifling little gew-gaws 
that Felix and I have picked up at various times 
187 


188 Mary Louise At Dor field 

in our travels, thinking you young merchants 
might have some sale for them. They are of no 
great value, but there is no use in keeping such 
things around the house when one no longer 
cares for them,’’ she said, opening a package she 
carried. Would you care to try to sell them? ” 

‘‘ Sure, we would,” answered Josie. We 
•are expecting to go into that kind of business a 
good deal. Are the things antiques? ” 

. Some of them! Here is a cameo brooch that 
is really quite pretty, but I am not the cameo 
brooch type. I can’t imagine what made Felix 
take — buy — such a thing.” Josie noticed the 
little slip but her expressionless face gave no 
clue to her thoughts. Here is a chain, quite 
pretty, and a locket too.” 

There were various trinkets, all of them ac- 
cepted by the girls and a price agreed upon for 
them. They were to receive a commission on the 
sales. 

I have some rugs too that we don’t want,” 
continued Hortense. Would you like them? 
Perhaps you might buy them outright and make 
quite a pretty penny on them.” 

‘ ^ Send them around and we will see about it, ’ ’ 
said Josie. Are they handsome? ” 


Dulaney Returns the Notebook 189 

Yes, quite fine! Felix thinks they are pret- 
tier than the ones we are using but I have a 
fancy for the old ones to which I have grown 
accustomed. ’ ’ 

Irene and Elizabeth listened to the above con- 
versation with feelings of mingled astonishment 
and amusement. Life for those girls was very 
interesting during the days while the net was 
slowly closing around the unconscious Markles. 
They could not help feeling sorry for them, but 
at the same time disgust at Hortense’s perfidy 
was uppermost in the minds of the girls who had 
led quiet sheltered lives themselves. 

‘‘ Tell me. Miss O’Gorman, has young Mr. 
Dulaney ever brought back your father’s note- 
book, and could he make head or tail of the pot- 
hooks? ” asked Hortense, pretending to be very 
nonchalant. 

No, not yet, but he was to get to it last 
evening,” answered Josie. ‘‘ But here he is 
now. ’ ’ 

Bob Dulaney came in the shop looking 
decidedly perturbed. 

“ Oh, Miss O’Gorman, I am worried stiff,” he 
cried, taking in the other occupants with a gen- 
oral bow. ‘‘ I can’t bear to meet you, but I 


190 Mary Louise At Dor field 

must have it over with. Do you know something 
has happened to the book you lent me, your 
father’s notebook, I mean. I have not had it 
out of my possession since you handed it to me, 
in my breast pocket all the time and when my 
coat was not on my back it was hanging on a 
chair by my bed. I have not had time to open 
the little book until last night. Then I untied the 
hard knot of the ribbons and found the book 
filled with nothing but blank pages. I can’t 
account for it. Certainly when you showed it to 
us when you moved in, it had ciphered notes in 
it. I remember well that you untied the strings 
and the pages were covered close with hiero- 
glyphics. You put it back on the shelves tightly 
tied up and I fancy it had not been opened since. 
In fact, I think you said it had not when you lent 
it to me.” 

It was difficult for Josie to pretend to the per- 
turbed young man, but she felt she must keep 
up the farce before the watchful Hortense. She 
devoutly hoped Irene and Elizabeth could hold 
on to themselves. She could plainly see they 
were excited and that Irene was filled with pity 
for poor Bob. 

‘‘It is too bad,” said Josie with as cold a 


Dulaney Returns the Notebook 191 

voice as she could muster. I should not have 
let the book get out of my possession. Of course, 
I don’t know myself what was in it, never hav- 
ing had time to dig out the meaning since my 
father died, but I understood from him that the 
information in it would be of the greatest value 
for the secret service.” 

I know it — but oh. Miss O’Gorman, I can’t 
tell you how I feel about it. I’m so miserable. 
I ’m going to see a detective about it immediately. 
I don’t see how it happened, or who could have 
known even that I had it. Could it have been 
done before I took it! ” 

Well, hardly,” spoke up Hortense with sorue- 
thing of a sneer. ‘ ‘ I was here when Miss 0 ’Gor- 
man gave it to you and she remarked at the 
time that — ’ ’ 

Well, there is no use in crying over spilt 
milk, as my father used to say,” interrupted 
Josie. ‘‘ I have learned a lesson and that is 
perhaps as worth while as the information de- 
tectives may have gained from the book — that 
is, not to lend too promiscuously.” 

Irene turned away her face. She felt so sorry 
for Bob she could not bear to look at him. She 
felt Josie was carrying the thing too far, but she 


192 Mary Louise At Dor field 

knew she must keep out of the discussion. If 
she could only let Bob know that she trusted him. 

I am so sorry! That is all I can say,’’ and 
Bob turned to go. Good-by, all of you. I 
fancy you won’t want to see me in your shop 
any more.” 

Oh, well, we may have to see you to try and 
clear up this matter,” said Josie, brusquely. She 
followed him to the door and out into the hall. 
Her manner suddenly changed. 

Shh! ” she warned. It is all right Don’t 
worry a minute. I have the notes all safe. You 
must forgive me for being so rude. Don’t ask 
any questions now but come back in a few 
minutes. Wait across the street until you see 
Mrs. Markle is gone, or better still, go to the 
back of the house and come up in the elevator 
and wait there until she is out of the house. We 
need your help. Understand? ” 

“ No, but it is all right if you say so,” was 
Bob’s relieved reply. 

‘‘ Well, young man, you come back here as 
soon as the coast is clear and, if you are sharp, 
you are going to assist in the biggest haul of 
fourflushers of this century. Also, you are going 
to get the scoop of your life for your paper. 


Didaney Returns the Notebook 193 

But don move without letting me know. ^ ’ With 
that Josie turned back the collar of her middy 
blouse and disclosed a badge that made Bob 
whistle. 

The young man carried down those old stairs a 
much lighter heart than he had carried up. 

‘‘ Who would have thought it^ he muttered. 

A chip of the old block, that’s sure — but what 
has the beautiful Mrs. Markle to do with it? 
Gee! But life is interesting! ” 

When Josie went back in the shop, Hortense 
began with a bitter invective against Bob Dula- 
ney. Of course, he had purloined the notes. He 
very well knew their value and was simply trying 
to pull the wool over Josie ’s eyes. Empty and 
blank papers indeed! She had seen the sheets 
all covered with notes with her own eyes and 
had seen Josie tie the ribbons around the little 
book in the hardest kind of a knot. Dulaney had 
simply sold them to some collector. For her 
part she had no faith in him. Why didn’t Josie 
send for the police? Josie told her perhaps she 
would but, after all, she doubted the papers being 
so very valuable. She only prized them for sen- 
timental reasons. Irene sat like a frozen girl 
during the conversation. She longed for Hor- 


194 Mary Louise At Dor field 

tense to go, which she did soon, and then Bob 
came whizzing up in the dumb-waiter and there 
was general rejoicing in the Higgledy-Piggledy 
Shop. 

We must lie very low and keep very quiet, 
warned Josie. Remember we are all novices 
and dealing with hardened criminals. We m.ust 
not make the mistake the Markles are making 
in underestimating the intelligence of our oppo- 
nents. Father always said to give the enemy 
credit for having more sense and ingenuity than 
you possess yourself and try to make up for 
your possible lack by eternal vigilance. Do you 
realize, Elizabeth, that our shop has been dravm 
into this net, that we are receivers of stolen 
goods I Every one of these trinkets has been 
stolen, also the rugs she is to send up on ap- 
proval. Of course, she hopes we will buy them 
outright and hand over the money in case she 
and her rascally husband may have to vamoose 
in a hurry. We will keep her waiting for a few 
days, eh, partner Elizabeth? ’’ 


CHAPTER XIX 


THE WEDDING 

The twelfth of June was just such a day as it 
should have been for the wedding day of the 
lovely Mary Louise and her darling Danny 
Dexter. The weather is always an important 
factor for a successful undertaking of any kind, 
but a stormy wedding day is something we can- 
not forgive the weather man. It was especially 
important that the sun should shine, hut not too 
hotly, and the breezes should be soft and gentle 
for this wedding, since it was to be staged out 
of doors. 

And what is so rare as a day in June? 

Then, if ever, come perfect days; 

Then Heaven tries earth if it be in tune. 

And over it softly her warm ear lays ; 

Whether we look, or whether we listen, 

We hear life murmur, or see it glisten.’’ 

That twelfth of June was just such a day as 
Lowell describes in his immortal poem. Every- 


195 


196 Mary Louise At Dor field 

body was happy, even Grandpa Jim, sinoe his 
beloved child was not really being taken from 
him. He was merely being presented with a 
grandson-in-law who would but add to the joy 
of his declining years. The wedding trip was to 
take Mary Louise away for only two weeks and 
Irene was to stay with him until Mr. and Mrs. 
Danny Dexter should return. 

The ceremony was to be at high noon, followed 
by a wedding breakfast, the splendor and lavish- 
ness of which was to be the talk of Dorfield for 
days to come. Colonel Hathaway was not in- 
clined to show, but the marriage of this dear 
grandchild was of paramount importance to the 
old man and he felt that nothing must be left 
undone to make this wedding breakfast perfect. 
The list of guests had grown, as such lists always 
do grow, and to the dear friends and intimates 
were gradually added the new acquaintances of 
grandfather and granddaughter. It was difficult 
to draw the line, since both old man and young 
girl had such kindly feelings for everybody in 
Dorfield and everybody surely loved them. 

<< Why draw the line, since it is so difficult? 
Grandpa Jim had remarked. If there is any 
doubt about whether we should or shouldnT ask 


The Wedding 


197 


anybody, for goodness’ sake let’s ask them. It 
is better to err on that side of the ledger.” And 
so the invitation ended by being general, much 
to the delight and satisfaction of Dorfield. Mrs. 
Wright, after all, might have spared herself her 
trouble of maneuvering for invitations for her 
daughters. 

The bridesmaids had arrived. They looked 
very like the bunches of sweet peas they were to 
carry. As for the bride, no lily of the field could 
have been fairer. 

‘‘ Her angel face as the great eye of 
Heaven shone bright 
And made a sunshine in a shady place. 

Did ever mortal eye behold such 
heavenly grace? ” 

quoted Elizabeth in a whisper to Josie. Josie 
had refused to be a bridesmaid, but was with 
them upstairs where they were waiting for the 
hour to strike. I do wish Irene could see you 
now,” she said to Mary Louise. 

Where is she, the dear girl? I’ll run down 
and speak to her before the people all come.” 

You could hardly do that, honey, as Irene 
is already out on the lawn. She has wheeled 
her chair to the spot where we decided she must 


198 ■ Mary Louise At Dor field 

sit so she can be part of the ceremony, as it 
were. ’ ^ 

“ Here I am! cried Hortense Markle trip- 
ping into the room. I was so afraid yon 
would worry about my not getting here in time. 
I am a wee bit late, but dear Felix is ill and I 
could not leave him before.’’ 

Oh, I am so sorry,” said Mary Louise. Is 
he in bed? ” 

No, he is sitting up with his dressing gown 
wrapped around him. It is just one of those 
miserable neuralgic attacks he is subject to, but 
it completely lays him out, poor fellow. He is 
so sorry not to come to the wedding. In fact, 
up to the last minute, he hoped he would be able 
to control the wretched headache and come any- 
how, but he finally had to give up. I gave him 
a huge dose of aspirin. I really hated to leave 
him but, of course, I could not be absent from 
such a post of honor at such a time. The matron 
of honor is almost as necessary to a bride as 
the groom himself. But how beautiful you are, 
my dear Mary Louise ! And the girls ! They are 
wonderful. I am almost sorry I am to be in the 
picture, I want so much to see it.” 

Hortense herself was as beautiful as could be. 


199 


The Wedding 

Her drees of the palest grey made over iri- 
descent silk was perfect and her glowing beauty 
shone in a manner that Elizabeth thought of as 
being almost diabolical in its lure. 

‘‘ I am sorry I know what she is,’’ Elizabeth 
whispered to Josie. I can’t enjoy her beauty 
as I should like to, knowing as I do what a thing 
she is.” 

‘‘ Well, keep up a face, anyhow,” admonished 
Josie. I am expecting trouble. I hope it 
won’t go wrong.” 

“ I promised to telephone Felix just before 
the ceremony,” said Hortense. He says he 
wants to picture us as we go through the yew 
hedge. He is really quite sentimental about this 
wedding, dear Mary Louise. You are a prime 
favorite wdth him and he thinks great things of 
your Danny.” 

At last the hour struck! It was time for the 
start. The guests had gathered on the lawn. 
It was hard for some of them to tear themselves 
away from the room where the wedding presents 
were placed. Such wedding presents ! Cases of 
silver of every known pattern and device! Cut 
glass and fine china! Wonderful rugs and 
tapestries! Rare etchings and prints! Linen 


200 Mary Louise At Dor field 

fine enough for a king’s ransom! All of these 
things were in a little room downstairs that con- 
nected Grandpa Jim’s bedroom and the living 
room. This room Mary Lonise had always used 
as an extra sitting room where she could take 
her intimates. It had been cleared of furniture 
for the occasion and tables brought in to hold all 
the beautiful presents. Some of the more curi- 
ous guests wanted to linger and read every card 
and look at the bottom of every piece of silver 
to see if, by chance, anyone could have sent 
anything not marked sterling; but when the 
rumor went forth that the bridal procession was 
ready to start, the curious ones hastened for 
the terraces. Hortense telephoned to her hus- 
band a moment before they left the house. 

‘‘We are ready, dear,” she said in the phone 
in Mary Louise’s roona. “ Just starting! You 
may think of us in five minutes now as being in 
the midst of the ceremony. I hope your dear 
head is better. Oh, I am so sorry! Go to bed 
dear! ” 

Josie watched every movement of the matron 
of honor. Nothing escaped the little detective. 
It was easy to see that Hortense was filled with 
^n excitement that merely being matron of honor 


201 


The Wedding 

did not warrant. Her eyes were sparkling and 
her cheeks were flushed. Her beauty glowed like 
a ruby. Occasionally, Josie noticed she stood 
still for a moment in an attitude of listening. 
Josie listened too up to the moment the bridal 
party came through the yew hedge and made its 
way to the spot on the greensward where the 
minister awaited. Then for a moment, she for- 
got everything but the fact that Mary Louise, 
her dear little friend, was being united to her 
Danny in the holy bonds of matrimony in sick- 
ness and in health until death would them part. 

Of course, the servants came out to the side of 
the house to see their little mistress married. 
Even the caterers who had begun to swarm in 
and out of the place left their work and joined 
the house servants. Mary Louise was a favorite 
with everybody and this was not the first time 
those caterers had been called to Colonel Hatha- 
way’s to serve, for the old gentleman was a 
famous entertainer and many had been the par- 
ties given by him to his granddaughter. The 
great house was empty. Everybody was in the 
garden thrilled by the beautiful and picturesque 
sight of the wedding. 

As the procession came through the yew hedge 


202 Mary Louise At Dor field 

a small automobile truck was driven up the alley. 
It stopped at the Hathaways^ back gate and two 
men got out, each one with a trunk slung over 
his back. Quietly they made their way through 
the deserted kitchen and butler’s pantry and into 
the small room where the presents were on dis- 
play. They closed the doors to this room and 
then with remarkable dispatch proceeded to pack 
the presents in the trunks filled with excelsior, 
first the silver which they took from the cases, 
thereby economizing space, and then the cut glass 
wrapped in the fine linen and tapestries and 
packed between the folds of the rugs. Such 
clever packers were never seen. They seemed to 
have an instinct for fitting an article in a space. 
The trunks were filled in a twinkling and then 
the men carried them out one at a time, and 
quietly and easily lifted them into the truck. Just 
as the minister pronounced Danny and Mary 
Louise man and wife and warned the guests that 
whom God had united let no man put asunder, 
the truck started up the alley. 

“ Well, we got off there all safe,” laughed one 
of the men. I must say you are the cleverest 
ever. Of course, you have your wife to help 
you plan a thing like this.” The man who was 


The Wedding 203 

thus blessed was no other than Felix Markle, 
who seemed to have shaken off his headache 
remarkably quickly and have got to the Hatha- 
ways’ in time for the ceremony after all. 

Yes, she is a wonder. I’d like to know if the 
others got the things from the Wrights. I hope 
they didn’t fill up with useless plunder. The 
Wrights are off to the beach tomorrow and they 
won’t know a thing about their treasures being 
lifted until they come back in the fall. There 
they are! ” 

The truck was met at the corner by one similar 
also carrying trunks and run by two men. 

“ All safe? ” called Markle. 

‘‘As easy as shootin’l ” was the answer. 
“ Not a soul around and back windows all un- 
latched. We found the silver on top the ward- 
robe and brought along all the books you named 
to us. We picked up some rugs too, all nicely 
packed in moth balls and two fur coats.” 

“ Well, we’d best be off now. You have the 
address all right, eh? Mark your tag clearly and 
bring me your check tomorrow at my office. 
Good boys ! ” - 

The trucks then separated, the one Markle 
was in making at a goodly speed for a small 


204 


Mary Louise At Dor field 

town about fifteen miles from Dorfield, the other 
one going to the Dorfield station. 

Josie, whose eye was ever on Hortense, noticed 
the woman was a little distrait at the close of 
the ceremony. Just as the benediction was pro- 
nounced instead of casting down her eyes she 
seemed unable to keep her eyes from the hack 
of the garden, even stooping a little to peer 
through a gap in the hedge. What could she be 
interested in? 

Congratulations in order! Everybody kissing 
the bride and shaking hands with the bride- 
groom, some of them even kissing him. Josie 
slipped through the crowd and whispered some- 
thing to Bob Dulaney. 

‘‘ A truck you say drove up during the cere- 
mony? 

Yes, and it is off now, but we can keep up 
with it. The chief is having all the stations 
watched. Have you your disguise? ’’ 

Sure! And you? 

‘‘ Mine is in my pocket, so come along. 


CHAPTER XX 


THE BIDE TO SOMEBVILIiE 

They made their way to the garage, where 
there was a motorcycle with a side car attached. 
Josie darted behind the ColonePs big touring car 
and in a moment came out as good a little boy 
as one could wish. She had simply stepped out 
of her dress, having the boy^s clothes on under- 
neath. Then she put on a pair of big automo- 
bile goggles and, pulling a cap down over her 
sandy hair, made the disguise perfect. Bob put 
on over his wedding garment a black alpaca 
dress of goodly proportions, since he was a broad 
shouldered, powerful youth. Across his manly 
bosom he folded a spotless white kerchief and 
under his chin he tied the strings of a huge 
black satin quilted sunbonnet, first fitting over 
his smooth brown head a wig composed of many 
water waves, the kind beloved by a certain type 
of female. 

‘ ‘ All right but your shoes and they are awful, ’ ^ 
complained Josie. I thought you would for- 
205 


206 


Mary Louise At Bor field 

get them and brought these. Father always said 
your feet would give you away quicker than any- 
thing else.’’ Josie produced from the side car 
a huge pair of list slippers which Bob was loath 
to put on but which he did, knowing the girl 
was right. The patent leathers he had on were 
hardly in keeping with the bombazine dress and 
the quilted satin bonnet. He surveyed himself 
with interest, twisting to see his back. 

Put your shoes and hat in your grip. Auntie, 
and then we are off. ’ ’ She handed the young man 
a lumpy, bumpy grip known as a telescope. He 
climbed into the side car, Josie mounted the 
motorcycle and in a jiffy they were off, making 
the usual splutteration of those noisy modes of 
locomotion. 

The chief is to attend to the station at Dor- 
field and we are to follow the truck, which is 
more than likely going over to Somerville. If it 
goes beyond there we will go beyond also. Of 
course, you realize the reason we don’t nab the 
fellows right now is that we are anxious to get 
the whole bunch and if we can keep up with 
where these trunks are to be sent we can more 
than likely get many more of the gang in our 
net,” explained Josie, putting on more speed as 


The Ride to Somerville 207 

she saw the rear end of a truck making for the 
open road on the way to Somerville. 

Now I am to hang around and find out where 
Markle ships the trunks and then I am to find 
out what the number of the checks is and report 
to the chief. Is that it? ’’ 

‘‘ Exactly! You are such a fussy old lady 
and so full of curiosity, Auntie.’^ 

‘‘ Are you going to let the trunks go off? ’’ 
asked Auntie anxiously. 

We may have to. Then the persons who 
apply for them at the other end will be nabbed. 
Of course, Markle will buy tickets and check the 
trunks and mail the checks to his confederates. 
More than likely, he will not get on the train 
himself but just pretend he is going to. I fancy 
poor old Markle will wish he had taken the train 
to-night. He may be near the end of his rope. 
I can’t help feeling kind of sorry for the poor 
devil.” Josie sighed a little. Father always 
felt sorry for the criminals. One can’t help it. 
He used to say they had just as much feeling 
as we had and because they had gone wrong did 
not alter the fact that they had been cunning 
little babies once and their mothers had no doubt 
loved them. Perhaps they loved them so much 


208 Mary Louise At Dor field 

they did not spank them enough and that is the 
reason they turned out so badly.” 

Bob laughed in a voice not at all suitable for a 
respectable auntie and was admonished by her 
critical nephew. They , soon caught up with the 
truck and kept a few hundred feet behind them. 

* ‘ What is that coming up behind us ? ” Markle 
asked his companion. 

‘‘ Nothing but one of those Indians with a side 
car carrying an old woman and a little boy. I 
tell you we made a safe getaway and these trunks 
will be on the Eastern express bound for the 
metropolis before the wedding guests have sat 
down to their pate de fois gras.” 

It went off quite as Josie had planned. Mar- 
kle, quietly and in a businesslike manner, bought 
two tickets to New York as soon as he reached 
the bustling little station at Somerville, after 
lifting out the heavy trunks. Josie and her 
fictitious auntie were near him and heard him 
ask for the tickets and demand checks for his 
baggage. 

1^11 get your tickets, Auntie, while you go 
’round to the baggage room and see if your 
trunk has come,” suggested Josie in an audible 
tone and a manner of a small nephew who was 


The Ride to Somerville 


209 


more or less wearied by his female relatives. 

But maybe I^d better not buy your ticket until 
you see whether it is there or not, ’cause I know 
you won’t get on the train without it. You women 
won ’t go on trips without your duds. ’ ’ 

Bob flounced off with all the dignity he could 
muster, managing his bombazine with surpris- 
ing grace. Markle and his companion paid no 
attention whatsoever to the boy and the old 
woman, but went on to the baggage room, where 
they personally superintended putting the checks 
on their trunks. It took but a moment for 
Auntie to poke around the piled up trunks in 
her diligent search for her own dream luggage 
and take the numbers of the checks. 

Can’t you find it? ” asked Josie. “ They 
promised to get it here in time. I don’t see why 
you don’t go on without it.” But Auntie decided 
she would wait until the next train. Her deci-* 
sion was made in a husky whine that astonished 
Josie, for it sounded so exactly like that of a 
peevish old woman. 

Josie watched Markle from the corner of her 
begoggled eyes. He took from his pocket a 
stamped, addressed envelop and carefully placed 
therein the trunk checks; then he sealed it and 


210 


Mary Louise At Dor field 


dropped it in the mail box on the platform. 
Josie noted a special delivery stamp on it. 

See that those two trunks go on this ex- 
press,’’ he said to the baggage master, who was 
busy sorting luggage for the train that was due 
in ten minutes. ‘‘ I will take the next train myself 
but a drummer likes to find his wares waiting 
for him at his destination instead of having to 
wait for them. They are fairly heavy trunks — 
would you like a lift? ” He was handing out 
good cigars as he spoke, one to the baggage 
master and one to the porter, whom he tipped 
generously. Have another,” he said to the 
baggage master, taking out several more cigars. 
The men moved with alacrity, pulling out the 
two heavy trunks first, determined that the 
generous donor of cigars and tips should be 
well served. 

Now we’ll be going,” Markle said to his 
companion. 

Josie darted into the one telephone booth the 
small station boasted and quickly had Chief 
Lonsdale on the wire. The chief had been 
unable to attend the wedding because of this 
business. 

Chief, this is O’Gorman! Markle and his 


The Bide to Somerville 211 

pal are just leaving Somerville. The trunks are 
filled with loot from the wedding. We have the 
check numbers. Trunks are checked to go on 
this outgoing express to New York. I’ll stop 
them, of course.” 

Certainly, O’Gorman! ” 

“ Are the men ready to seize Markle before he 
gets back into Dorfield? ” 

‘‘ AU ready! ” 

‘‘ Are they using my plan? ” 

‘‘Sure! Didn’t I tell you this was your 
case? ” 

“ Good by, then! Will see you later.” 

The truck with Markle and his companion was 
moving off when Josie finished telephoning. She 
ran breathless into the baggage room and accosted 
the man in charge: 

“ Say, you know that gentleman who left two 
trunks here to be sent by this train — he says 
not to send them yet. He believes he will have 
them go when he goes. You know the ones — 
booked for New York — No. 82-6573 and 82-6574. 
Here they are on the platform.” 

“All right. Bo! I’ll cart them back in the 
baggage room,” agreed the baggage master. He 
patted the cigars in his vest pocket as much as 


212 Mary Louise At Dor field 

to say that the gentleman deserved anything at 
his hands. 

Auntie was already comfortably ensconced in 
the side car keeping her eye on the disappearing 
truck. Josie jumped into the saddle and they 
started o:ff. 

There is liable to be something doing pretty 
soon/^ Josie confided to Bob. Would you 
rather meet it as my aunt or get back into your 
own character? 

‘‘You mean a rumpus on the road? ’’ 

“Yes! Chief Lonsdale has sent out a force 
to stop the gentlemen of the road.’^ 

“ Which character would be the most useful 
for me to assume? ’’ laughed Bob. 

“ Well, as a fussy old woman you might aston- 
ish them somewhat with your superior strength 
if that was needed.’^ 

“ Then a fussy old woman I shall remain.’’ 

The road between Dorfield and Somerville was 
smooth and well kept, except for a piece of about 
one hundred yards midway between the towns. 
This stretch of road had caused some bad feeling 
between the citizens of the rival towns, each side 
declaring it was up to the other to put in repair. 
It was a low lying bit of country vfith a small 


The Ride to Somerville 


213 


creek winding through it. At times this creek 
went on a rampage and inundated the road and 
when it returned to its channel it always left 
a sticky gummy road bed, the terror of 
automobilists. 

It was an impossible place for two cars to 
pass and, if they should meet, it was necessary 
for one of the cars to back out and give the 
other right of way. This, of course, was the 
spot chosen by Josie as the proper place to stop 
Markle and his companion. When she came 
puffing up with her auntie she found her plans 
being put to the test. The truck had been 
stopped by a shabby Ford that seemed to have 
come to grief. The four men who had been 
traveling in it had alighted and were aimlessly 
poking at the machinery. The accident had 
occurred just around the bend and the truck 
had come upon them unaware of its being there. 

WTiat^s the matter? called Markle im- 
patiently. CanT you give me room to pass? 

‘‘ Can’t budge her,” responded the chauffeur 
dully. She’s got some mysterious ailment that 
I can’t fathom, but I ain’t much of a hand at a 
car anyhow. Ain’t been running one for long. 
If I could get her started I’d back out for you, 


214 Mary Louise At Dor field 

mister, seeing as you should have the right of 
way, being as you are further in this here swamp 
than me.’^ 

“ I’ll get out,” Markle said to his companion, 

and find out what ails them and let them back 
out. It won’t do for us to lose too much time.” 

It was plain to see that he was nervous and 
impatient, but he held on to himself with won- 
derful control. The men let him get to the car 
and look it over. 

‘ ‘ Out of gas ! ” he said with disgust. ^ ‘ Bring 
over that can and let us fill her up,” he called to 
his companion. Under the seat of the truck was 
a five-gallon can of gasoline. Nobody could ever 
place Felix Markle in the category of the foolish 
virgins. He never found himself out of oil. The 
man obeyed and just as he started to open the 
can Josie and her auntie arrived on the scene. 


CHAPTER XXI 


THE SUEPEISING STEENGTH OF AUNTIE 

At a signal from Josie, Markle and Ms com- 
panion were grabbed from behind. The hand- 
cuffs were on the companion in a twinkling but 
with tiger-like agility and strength Markle 
slipped from the grasp of the detectives. With- 
out a moment ^s delay he sprang to the motor- 
cycle, seized Josie by the collar, pulled her from 
the saddle and hurled her into the bushes by the 
wayside. He was in the seat and had the 
macMne started before his would-be captors 
could catch their breath. 

‘‘ That^s what I get for trusting those stupid 
men,’^ muttered Josie as she picked up her 
bruised and scratched little body from the black- 
berry bushes where Markle had so ignominiously 
thrown her. Thank God for Auntie! she 
devoutly added. 

And now began one of the most exciting con- 
tests ever beheld. Markle, of course ignorant of 
215 


216 Mary Louise At Dor field 

who the passenger was in the side car and deter- 
mined to get rid of her at any cost, said: 

Now old woman, I don’t want to Mil you, 
but I will unless you do exactly what I say. 
When we get a mile further on I am going to 
stop this infernal machine and you are going to 
get quietly out. Do you understand? ” 

The supposed old woman nodded. She began, 
however, to unbutton the large white cotton 
gloves confining her muscular hands and im- 
knotted the bonnet ribbon tied under her chin. 
She moved her shoulders back and forth in the 
bombazine gown, making sure there was plenty 
of room to give them free play. 

Bob Dulaney had been conceded by his regi- 
ment in the A. E, F. to be the best wrestler 
among them. He had strength and agility and 
science. He had never had to use his powers 
handicapped in a woman’s dress and kerchief 
with a stiff sunbonnet but, in spite of the con- 
fining clothes and the powerful build of Markle, 
he felt quite confident that he could master him. 
He was conscious of his muscles rippling under 
his feminine garb and as he drew off his gloves 
he gloried in the strength of his great hands. 
Should he wait until Markle stopped the car or 


Surprising Strength of Auntie 217 

would it be better to grapple with him imme- 
diately! Of course, an immediate grapple would 
mean the detectives in the temporarily disabled 
Ford would come to his assistance. The sport- 
ing blood in Bob^s veins rebelled at this thought. 
He did not want any assistance. He preferred 
to have the fight out single handed. He glanced 
at Markle. A handsome fellow with a well set 
head and fine square jaw. His close cropped 
iron-grey hair gave a touch of dignity to his 
appearance. 

Such a pity! Such a pity! Bob thought. 

Talent gone wrong, just as little Josie said! 
but he patted the handcuffs which Josie had 
placed in the old lady’s reticule. 

“ Here’s where you get off ! ” said Markle, 
stopping his Indian. Step lively, old woman! 
I’ve no time to lose.” 

The old woman reached out and grasping 
Markle around the middle she lifted him from 
the saddle. For the first time in his eventful 
career of systematized crime, Felix Markle was 
taken completely by surprise. Knowing the ups 
and downs of his profession, he was ever ready 
for an attack, but this bunchy old woman who 
had so meekly submitted to being carried off had 


218 


Mary Louise At Dor field 

given him a shock. If she was not what she 
seemed, why had she let him get away from the 
plain clothes men who might have rendered as- 
sistance in the way of ready revolvers and hand- 
cuffs. All this flashed through his mind as he 
struggled in the bear hug of the mysterious 
female. 

Markle was even stronger and more agile than 
Bob had thought him to be. In spite of the hold 
he had on him from the back he wriggled around 
and grappled with his foe. Back and forth they 
fought each one trying to get the death grip on 
the other. The bombazine skirt was more of a 
handicap than Bob had thought it would be. He 
had not realized before how necessary his legs 
were in a fight. Strange to say the voluminous 
skirts also got in Markle ’s way and finally man- 
aged to trip him up. They rolled in the dirt. 
With a great wrench Bob managed to pull up 
the offending skirt and with all the strength and 
science he could command caught the infuriated 
Markle in the death-like vise known as the body 
scissors. In this grip, the opponent is held 
between the legs of one who has obtained this 
advantage and by the play of the thigh muscles 
the breath is slowly squeezed out. 


Surprising Strength of Auntie 219 

As Markle^s head drooped Bob drew the hand- 
cuffs from his bedraggled reticule and snapped 
them on his wrists. With his kerchief, no longer 
snowy, he bound his ankles together. 

There, poor fellow, I fancy you would have 
been happier if I had not let up when I did but 
had squeezed all the breath out of you,^’ Bob 
panted. 

The chug of the rejuvenated Ford was now 
heard and, after it, the rumble of the truck. The 
Ford was breaking the speed limits in its 
endeavor to come up with the Indian and its 
side car. Josie was wild with impatience. It 
was all she could do to keep from slapping the 
stupid detective who had let their quarry escape. 

“ It is what I get for trusting them,’^ she kept 
on saying to herself. ‘‘ I could have snapped 
the handcuffs on myself without using any 
force. And now, poor Bob Dulaney may be 
killed or almost worse than killed, Markle 
escaping and no scoop after all to speak of.’^ 

The fight that had seemed to Bob Dulaney to 
last hours had in reality only taken a few 
minutes, only long enough for the gasoline to 
be put in the tank and the car to be backed out 
of the miry road, turned around and started. 


220 Mary Louise At Bor field 

They found Bob sitting on the roadside by his 
captive burglar. He was still in the bombazine 
gown but his wig and bonnet were gone. He 
had found the pockets of his trousers under his 
skirts and had produced therefrom cigarettes 
and matches and was contentedly smoking. 

“ Hurrah for Auntie! cried Josie when she 
took in the situation as the car slowed down. 
Tears of joy were in her eyes but a little lump 
of sympathy in her throat. They lifted Markle 
into the truck. Life was slowly coming back to 
him. He opened his eyes for a moment and then 
closed them wearily. He murmured something 
but only Josie caught the meaning of his 
whisper : 

Pet, poor little Pet! 

It was an easy matter to round up the gang of 
thieves when once the master mind was not 
allowed to direct them. Markle was confined in 
jail, there to await his trial. The holder of 
checks Nos. 82-6573 and 82-6574 when he applied 
at the New York baggage room was followed and 
trapped and with him many others. 

The books of Simpkins & Markle were in- 
spected and, through them, the furnished apart- 
ments were located and the stolen goods re- 


Surprising Strength of Auntie 221 

stored to their owners. Poor Simpkins had 
learned a lesson not to shut his eyes and get 
rich too quick. He was let off — having con- 
vinced the jury that he was not dishonest — 
but merely stupid. 

But to return to the wedding breakfast and 
the fortunes of Mary Louise: Everything went 
off as it should have and the theft of the presents 
was not discovered until the bride and groom 
were off on their honeymoon and then Chief 
Lonsdale had the trunks brought from Somer- 
ville and, so carefully had the things been packed 
by the experts, that not even one piece of cut 
glass had been broken. The trunkful of things 
purloined from the Wrights had also been held 
at the station and was returned intact. Of 
course Elizabeth was blamed by her family when 
the whole thing came out for having introduced 
them to such people but Elizabeth only smiled, 
being very happy way down deep in her heart 
that Billy McGraw was saved from the wiles of 
the beautiful Hortense. 

The beautiful Hortense simply faded out of 
sight. By some occult means she must have 
known of the pursuit of her husband and the 
vigilance of the police in regard to herself. It 


222 


Mary Louise At Dorfield 

may have been through a confederate employed 
by the caterers who perhaps saw Josie and Bob 
speeding away on the motorcycle. At any rate, 
she did not return to her apartment, but as soon 
as the ceremony was over, she excused herself 
to Mary Louise, regretting exceedingly not being 
able to be present during the breakfast and sit 
at the bride’s table, but her poor Felix was so 
miserable she must go to him. She tripped 
down the terrace and as has been said, simply 
faded out of sight. The detectives who had 
been set by the astute chief to guard the apart- 
ment and to arrest her when she made her 
appearance had a long and unfruitful vigil. It 
seemed strange that a beautiful woman dressed 
so strikingly in pale grey over iridescent silk 
could in a town no bigger than Dorfield escape 
the notice of everyone and disappear. 

Bob Dulaney got, as he expressed it, the 
scoop of his life.” He was able to get his story 
in one of the big New York papers before the 
A. P. got on to it, thereby reaping a reward in 
reputation as well as money. The whole coun- 
try rang with the daring scheme practiced by the 
gang of thieves and Chief Lonsdale and his force 
received compliments from every city. Josie 


Surprising Strength of Auntie 223 

asked not to be put in the papers as the one who 
had really done the work. 

It isn^t newspaper notoriety I want/^ she 
explained. ‘‘ My father never wanted that kind 
of credit. He just wanted to have the con- 
sciousness that he had delivered the goods and 
to be sure he had the respect of the profession. 
If it gets out I was active in this, I might lose 
my chance to nab others by being the insignifi- 
cant little person I appear. It^s better for me 
to go on keeping the Higgledy-Piggledy Shop 
with Elizabeth. I can learn all kinds of things 
that I^d miss if I were known to be a real 
detective. I am here if you need me,’’ she said 
to Chief Lonsdale, and he smiled at her. 

‘ ‘ How lilie your father you are, child ! ’ ’ 

Markle had one consolation while he was in 
prison awaiting his trial: he had the notebook 
which had belonged to Detective 0 ’Gorman which 
he had not yet been able to decipher. The long 
hours of solitary prison life gave him the 
opportunity to put his whole mind on it and at 
last he felt sure he had mastered the cipher. 
tVith painstaking care he translated the first 
page. Then he sat and looked at it with an 
expression on his handsome face that beggared 


224 


Mary Louise At Dor field 


description. After all lie had been fighting Fate 
and trying to escape his own sin. And this is 
what he had translated: 


I fled Him, down the nights and down the days ; 
I fled Him, down the arches of the years; 

I fled Him, down the labyrinthine ways 
Of my own mind ; and in the midst of tears 
I hide from Him, and under running laughter. 
Up vistaed hopes I sped; 

And shot, precipitated 
Adown Titanic glooms of chasmM fears. 

From those strong Feet that followed, followed 
after. 

But with unhurrying chase. 

And unperturbed pace. 

Deliberate speed, majestic instancy. 

They beat — and a Voice beat 
More instant than the Feet — 

‘ All things betray thee, who betrayest Me.’ ” 


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